FeedsPlymouth looks at regional fire alternative
Plymouth City Commissioners put their support of a possible multi-community fire department in writing Monday night.
The commission unanimously approved a resolution directing Mayor Dan Dwyer to contact other elected officials and begin discussions that could lead to a regionalized fire response system.
Dwyer said the resolution was largely symbolic, but it was important to send a clear message to Plymouth taxpayers and other local governments that the city is committed to building joint public service relationships.
“This resolution lets potential partners know we’re serious and it lets our residents know where we are headed,” said Dwyer, who sits on a committee convened by the Michigan Government Finance Officers Association that explores ways to stimulate public safety and service cooperation among neighboring communities.
Dwyer said combining resources is the wave of the future and will improve service for everyone involved.
“By combining services we are saving money and providing better services,” he said. “It’s good government.”
According to a report released by the committee, municipalities may not have a choice. The report cites Michigan as one of the worst performers in the nation in regards to employment and economic growth. Bound to a declining auto and manufacturing industry and reduced state revenue sharing, some communities are struggling to perform basic services.
Local municipalities surrounding Plymouth are open to the idea of joint operations. Northville Township Manager Chip Snider has discussed sharing resources with Dwyer.
The talk about a regionalized fire service came up while the city explored a dispatch agreement with Northville Township, but Snider said they were only preliminary discussions. Still, he asked the township board of trustees if he could look into the concept.
“I knew this was coming,” Snider said. “They said ‘Absolutely.’ It shows progressive leadership.”
Plymouth Township officials also support investigating joint fire operations. Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume sits on the Conference of Western Wayne— a group of elected officials representing municipalities in Western Wayne County—and is part of a group studying the feasibility of joint fire departments.
He has also met with downriver elected officials who have a grant to develop a strategy to unite fire departments in their community.
“It appears that we all agree to continue the discussion,” said Reaume.
Reaume said possible issues blocking a joint fire department could be residents not wanting to work together or labor concerns about contracts and benefits. Dwyer seems to agree.
“This discussion has much to do with politics and residents’ interests, many of them legitimate,” said Dwyer. While he remains optimistic about seeing a multi-community fire department, he realizes negotiations may take years, even past his term as mayor.
“I just want to set it in the right direction,” he said.
Editor Scott Spielman contributed to this story
