Politics & Government

Tempers Flare Over Township Fire Services

Resident, township treasurer disagree about looming changes to fire services.

Fire services in Plymouth Township again were the topic of debate Tuesday at the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees meeting.

The board unanimously approved minor modifications to new rules and regulations that had already been approved at a Sept. 13 meeting, which encourage the use of “part-paid,” or on-call firefighters, who would help the full-time firefighters. These workers would have to live or work within a 15-mile radius of the township boundary.

Chris Hall, a resident who works as a firefighter and paramedic, said during the public comments segment of the meeting that the new standards the township board has put on the fire department is “unacceptable.”

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Hall referenced that would create a special assessment to keep services, including EMS capabilities from the fire department, intact once a current fire agreement between the township and the City of Plymouth . The board took no action on the petition in August when it was determined after an official tally that it fell just short of the minimum required signatures to advance it as a ballot item.

“I don’t understand why the signatures did not get passed and why you would not put this on the ballot,” Hall said. Although the petition was determined by township officials to not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance, the board had the ability to take action on it but chose not to.

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“So what’s the harm in putting this on the ballot?" Hall said. "There is no harm. It’s just a win-win. You get the money to cover your budget to keep the services in this community. I work damn hard for what I have and you’re going to tell me the care and protection I’m going to get at night is substandard?”

Hall argued that the on-call firefighters would be coming from too far of a distance to have a fast response time in the event of an emergency.

Treasurer Ron Edwards challenged Hall's objectivity in arguing for maintaining fire services. He asked Hall about his background, to which he replied he was a firefighter and paramedic.

Edwards asked Hall to turn around and look at the 15-mile radius map projected on a screen behind him that showed where the on-call firefighters can reside or work, disputing Hall's claims of distance affecting response to a call; Hall refused to turn around, saying he was talking to Edwards.

“I pay you good money to sit there and listen,” Hall said.

“I’m not going to listen to you because of your background,” Edwards said, referring to Hall's occupation.

Hall said he would pay more to keep the level of service the township has and decried the township's use of Huron Valley Ambulance, a nonprofit community ambulance service, for EMS needs.

Township Supervisor Richard Reaume said he has heard from residents who are opposed to being taxed to keep fire services intact. He said he received a letter after a Sept. 16 meeting from a resident who was against raising taxes to maintain fire services.

Marvin Stempien, a resident and retired circuit court judge, said he supported maintaining fire services and wants a fully staffed department at night.

“I’m a senior citizen, I’m a resident of Plymouth Township for 26 years and I had a fire at 1 a.m. with six (members) of my family in my house.”

He said that thanks to the fast response at the time, everyone escaped unharmed.

“I don’t understand why you would want the least amount of fire protection during the night hours,” he said, referring to the hours where the on-call firefighters primarily would be used. “That’s the time when families are at home. That’s the time families do things that risk a fire.”


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