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PAGE 10 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN June 24, 2021

NORTHVILLE - PLYMOUTH
NORTHVILLE - PLYMOUTH

Northville Fire Chief to retire July 2

Putting out fires was Steve through a variety of means -
Ott's job in both his professional ” equipment replacement funds,
careers, first as an attorney and He has so much to be proud of. federal grants for the new rescue
then as City of Northville Fire truck, and regional grants for
Chief. It was a pleasure to work with him. new radios and hoses.”
He will officially retire as fire The department has also
chief July 2. improved the process of collect-
A partner at the Miller Fires, however, had interested That led to the establishment ing data from each run and keep-
Canfield law firm, Ott joined the Ott for several years, he said. He of the current EMT service which ing track of who has completed
Northville Fire Department as an had watched the action at the fire now accounts for a high percent- training courses by switching
on-call firefighter and emergency station next to his dorm at age of calls for service in the from paper forms to an electronic
medical technician in 1985 when Michigan State University and department. data base. This conversion, using
he and his family initially moved while studying at Wayne State At the request of City of Google docs, now makes it easier
to Northville. He became “of Law, he awakened one night to a Plymouth officials in 2010, to see performance metrics and
counsel” or part-time at the law massive warehouse fire nearby. Northville agreed to man a fire produce a variety of reports,” Ott Steve Ott
firm when he became chief in He said he watched in awe as station and service the City of said.
Northville in 2014. firefighters battled the flames Plymouth following negotiation “Chief Ott has led so many ini- City Fire Department, he brought
He recalled his rather inauspi- and when he saw an ad to of a contract finalized in 2012. tiatives that have advanced our the department up to speed with
cious beginnings with the depart- become an auxiliary member of “It's a good thing for both com- fire department, medical vehicles and equipment, boosted
ment which started when he hap- the Detroit Fire Department, munities,” Ott said. “It provides response, the partnership with training, and used technology to
pened to walk past the fire sta- applied and was accepted, with each community with additional Plymouth, and increased training improve runs and office proce-
tion. He said he noticed a crew subsequent training and supervi- resources that you couldn't have and professionalism,” said dures, officials said.
training through the open bay sion. with only one station.” Currently, Northville City Manager Pat “A lot of people have stepped
doors and was intrigued. The In the early years of being an the Northville Fire Department Sullivan. “He has so much to be up” to achieve these upgrades to
professional attorney asked for- on-call firefighter for Northville, is staffed by four captains, four proud of. It was a pleasure to the department, Ott said. Under
mer Fire Chief Jim Allen if he Ott and others proposed teaching lieutenants and 60 paid on-call work with him.” his leadership, on-call firefight-
could observe the crew training an EMT class in-house, and Allen firefighters, with 30 each allocat- In retirement, Ott plans to ers, emergency medical techni-
exercises and that led to his even- agreed. At that time, the depart- ed to Station 1 (City of Northville) travel nationally and abroad, and cians (EMTs) and lieutenants and
tual joining the department. He ment only put out fires, personnel and Station 2 (City of Plymouth). spend more time with his adult captains have gone the extra mile
said he suspects that Allen was didn't supply any official medical “The department has never children, four grandchildren, and to make sure the department
very doubtful about the abilities assistance. EMT training sessions been as well equipped as it is his many friends. stays top-notch and ready to
of a lawyer to handle the rigors of initially took place all day, every now,” Ott said, “We've been able In the seven years that Ott has serve the community, city offi-
firefighting back then. Sunday for seven to eight months. to stay up-to-date on equipment served as chief of the Northville cials said.
New director named at Plymouth District Library

Shauna Anderson has been Souchock. for young people, library offi- That effort, board members
named as the new director at Anderson most recently cials said. said, depends on cultivating an
the Plymouth District Library. served as the Assistant Director Board members said that empowered team of staff who
Anderson was selected from of Taylor Community Library Anderson's diverse background find joy in their work and seek
a broad field of candidates fol- where she set the vision for in education, technology, and out meaningful connections
lowing an extensive search by public services and experi- community development and with patrons.
the Plymouth District Library ences to enrich the community. her belief that strong public Anderson holds an MSi from
Board of Trustees, with assis- As the former Supervisor of libraries are at the heart of the University of Michigan
tance from Mortimore Young Adult Services at Skokie close-knit communities influ- School of Information with a
Consulting. Final interviews Public Library in Skokie, IL, enced their decision. double-specialization in
were conducted at a special Anderson spearheaded the use They said that she is commit- Library Science and
public meeting of members of of restorative practices in pub- ted to building on established Community Informatics.
the library board on June 6 and lic libraries, built out the frame- library practices to provide Library patrons may remem-
Anderson chosen to fill the work for an all-ages experien- learning experiences that are ber Anderson, as she formerly
position left vacant with the tial learning lab, and re-imag- social, participatory, interest- served as a Teen Services
retirement earlier this month ined services that vastly driven, and relevant for people Librarian at the Plymouth
of former library Director Carol increased library participation of all ages and backgrounds. District Library. Shauna Anderson