A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
December 14, 2017
B
ELLEVILLE
- C
ANTON
Members of the Belleville City
Council took no action on a plan
to dissolve the local fire depart-
ment during the regular meeting
last week.
Rumors of a plan to eliminate
the local city fire department
have been rampant for months.
Fire department officials said
that city administrators called
them to a meeting at the end of
November and told them the
department would be dissolved
as of Jan. 1. They also stated that
City Manager Diana Kollmeyer
told them a vote would take
place on an intergovernmental
agreement with Van Buren
Township dissolving the city
department at the meeting last
week.
Belleville Mayor Kerreen
Conley, however, disputed that
contention and said during the
meeting that “no decision was
imminent.”
More than 60 residents crowd-
ed into The Commons at
Belleville High School for the
meeting, moved from city hall to
accommodate the crowd.
Residents protested the rumored
vote on outsourcing fire protec-
tion in the city to Van Buren
Township. Currently, Belleville is
staffed by an on-call paid group
of 15 firefighters. Van Buren, too,
has a paid on-call fire depart-
ment led by a full-timeFire Chief
Dan Besson under the direction
of Public SafetyDirector Gregory
Laurain.
The proposed 10-year fire
service contract through an
intergovernmental agreement
with Van Buren Township would
cost Belleville about $160,000
annually for four years and then
increase by 2 percent each year
to about $180,000 the final year.
The city firefighters would work
for Van Buren Township accord-
ing to the proposed language.
The firefighters have a contract
with Belleville which expires
Dec. 31.
During the meeting, Conley
attempted to calm the crowd
telling them that she “hopes the
city continues to have the service
delivery at the current level or
even greater.” She said that any
decision made by the council
members regarding fire services
should be mindful of improved
response time since the current
volunteers are notified of an
emergency at their homes, travel
to the fire station and then to the
scene of the incident.
The Van Buren volunteers fol-
low the same procedures,
according to fire officials.
Conley said that the move to
the Van Buren department
would not be an easy decision
and that a conversation about
disbanding the Belleville depart-
ment would not be easy, “but it is
onewe need tohave.”
After hearing the comments of
residents, many strongly opposed
to themove and the closing of the
city fire station, Conley noted
that there were issues that need-
ed consideration in the decision.
The firefighters, however, took
legal action through attorney
Michael Ossy, representing the
Belleville Volunteer Firefighters
Association. Ossy filed a motion
in Wayne County Circuit Court
seeking an order to stop the city
from taking any action on dis-
banding the fire department.
Conley suggested that a com-
mittee or a facilitator be appoint-
ed to help determine the best
course of action in making a
decision.
Reportedly, city officials have
been discussing the closing of the
department sinceAugust.
Happy New Year
Circus returns to Canton for special show
The New Year will be cele-
brated with high-flying aerial
antics on fabric, trapeze feats of
daring and lyramoves along with
other jaw-dropping performanc-
es as The Detroit Circus per-
forms at The Village Theater at
CherryHill NewYear'sEve.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. New
Year's Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31 show,
are priced at $22 and available at
or
the Village Theater box office
from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. week-
days. Tickets can also be
ordered by phone at (734) 394-
5300 ext. 3.
Spectators will be entertained
by this locally-based, animal-free
circus that features performers
including contortionists and jug-
glers, along with feats of mind-
bending strength and acrobatics.
Performances of The Detroit
Circus have sold out at The
Village Theater each year since
2015.
The Detroit Circus is com-
prised completely of Detroit-
Area performers who were dis-
covered by founder, Micah
Adams. During their perform-
ance at The Village Theater
skilled aerialists will dance,
weave and flow through the air,
while aerial hoop performers
display lyrical flexibility as they
contort and spin with grace,
poise, and astonishing strength.
The Detroit Circus is suitable for
all ages.
The Village Theater at Cherry
Hill is located at 50400 Cherry
Hill Road, Canton. For more
information, call (734) 394-5300 or
visit
.
org.
Reportedly, city officials have been discussing the
closing of the department since August.
”
Residents protest plan to close fire department
