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A Host Community Agreement with the
Environmental Quality Co. is already paying
dividends for theCity of Romulus.
Members of the city council unanimously
approved a $15,000 expenditure to fix the
roof on the Romulus Civic League building
on Wahrman Road. The funds for that proj-
ect were available through the host agree-
ment the city council approved inMarch.
That agreement allowed EQ to handle
non-hazardous material at the facility off
Van Born Road. In exchange, the company
provided the city a flat $50,000 up-front fee.
The city will also receive $.25 for every ton
of material transferred at the facility, which
couldbring in asmuchas $25,000 annually.
“Those funds are set aside for things that
we couldn't have normally done, that would-
n't meet the requirements for block grants
and so forth,” said Romulus Mayor LeRoy
Burcroff.
Willie Hester, president of the Romulus
Civic League, said the roof at the facilitywas
leaking and the project was important to the
continued activities and services the league
provides for the community. He said he was
pleasedwith theunanimous vote.
“It does me good and fills me with confi-
dence that the council has good things to say
about our group,” said Hester, a 30-year
member of the organization. “We try to
make an effort for our community. We really
love Romulus. It's all about the neighbor-
hood.We appreciate the support.”
Burcroff said he was glad the city could
provide the financial assistance, and added
that the funds did not come from taxpayers'
pockets. He said he looked forward to the
other civic projects the host agreement
would allow the city tohelpwith.
“This is going to allow us to help some
good people that have a good cause, that are
non-profits in the community,” Burcroff
said.
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ICHIGAN
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May 22, 2014
R
OMULUS
Fire fighters donate outdated equipment overseas
$15,000 host agreement funds used for roof repairs
Due to safety regulations, the Romulus
Fire Department can no longer use some
outdated gear and equipment. But the local
firefighters hope their “brotherhood” in for-
eign lands canput the items touse.
Deputy Chief Kevin Krause said the gear
and equipment did not meet the standards
established by the National Fire Protection
Association, which deems the older equip-
ment unsafe for use by firefighters in the
UnitedStates.
However, such standards do not apply to
needy third-world countries, Krause said, so
the Romulus Fire Department, with the sup-
port of the city administration, has donated
the items to the International Fire Relief
Mission inHazel Green, KY.
Krause said the mission collects old gear
and ships it to firefighters in needy foreign
lands.
The equipment includes different sized
fire hoses, fire backboards, old nozzles and
fittings and such “turnout gear” as helmets,
hoods, gloves, boots, coats, pants and jump-
suits that Romulus firefighters no longer use.
The items were wrapped for shipping on
pallets. Freddie Block of family-owned
Block's Stand and Greenhouse used a forklift
to load the pallets into trucks of Con-way
Freight. Antoine Seegars, a driver and train-
er for Con-way Freight, transported the pal-
lets from the Fire Station on Eureka Road to
Con-way headquarters in Romulus. Other
drivers will transport the freight to the Con-
way location in Cincinnati and then on to
Kentucky.
“This gear can't be used in American fire
service,” Krause said, “but its usefulness to
another department is huge. If we were
going to sell the items, we would recoup very
little, but in the fire service brotherhood, the
value is priceless. We know somebody will
use them.”
Lareece Broadus, personnel supervisor
with Con-way Freight in Romulus, said her
firmdidnot hesitatewhenKrause inquired.
“When he reached out, I instantly thought
of community outreach and how our compa-
ny can provide assistance for the greater
good,” Broadus said. “We are big on charity
and we are really big on helping the commu-
nity. By being a part of this, we know some-
onewill benefit.”
Con-way Freight is the premier provider
of reliable, regional, inter-regional and
nationwide LTL service to customers large
and small across our integrated, singleNorth
American network of LTL operating loca-
tions.
Block's Stand and Greenhouse, located
across Eureka Road from the fire station, is
one of the best-known providers of flower
and vegetable plants in the spring and home-
grown produce, fruit and vegetables starting
in July. The Romulus family-owned-and-
operated business farms more than 800
acres. Items are pickeddaily formarket.
“We want to help our neighbors and the
community,” Freddie Block said. “We're
always happy tohelp.”
Romulus Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff
thanked the Romulus businesses for their
participation and said he is in “total support”
of needy firefighters making use of equip-
ment no longer of value to the city.
“Public safety is all about helping each
other out,” the mayor said. “No matter what
state or country we are in, first responders
are passionate about doing their job. If we
can help with our support or equipment,
whatever it may be, it's not just our obliga-
tion, but our privilege to do that.”
Krause said the donation was part of
Romulus' reputation as the “gateway to the
world” and also ties in with the mayor's ini-
tiative of “projecting the city into the commu-
nity.”
“The Fire Department wants to continue
to build relationships with the public and
with surrounding communities,” Krause
said. “This is a very good cause.”
Krause said the fire department is
involved in other community outreach initia-
tives. The department has a supply of smoke
detectors that can be installed in homes in
the city. Firefighters conduct home safety
inspections. The department will offer class-
es in first aid, CPR and automatic external
defibrillation (AED).
On Saturday, May 31, the FireDepartment
will host an open house at fire headquarters
at 28777 Eureka Road. The Fire Station will
be open to the public from11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Firefighters will distribute fire safety
materials and participate in various demon-
strations throughout the day. For more infor-
mation, call the Fire Department at (734)
941.8585.
The Romulus Fire Department and Con-way Freight in Romulus were two of the partners in
a donation of outdated gear and equipment to needy firefighters in third-world countries.
Among the participants in the process were Lt. Mike Wojtylko (left), EMS Coordinator Neal
Allgood, Firefighter George Smith, Deputy Chief Kevin Krause, Con-way driver Antoine
Seegars and Personnel Supervisor Lareece Broadus. Other participants included Lt. Doug
Rowe and Freddie Block of Block's Stand and Greenhouse.