A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
July 5, 2018
B
ELLEVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Purchase of new
fire truck approved
Library board deadline nears
Plymouth Township Fire Chief Dan
Phillips was all smiles at the end of the
board of trustees meeting last week after
receiving approval to order a new fire
truck for the township fire department.
The chief and Lt. Chris Mack present-
ed final specifications to board members
for the purchase a new 2018 Pierce
Enforcer Fire Pumper for $635,061. This
was the first time since year 2000 that the
department has had authorization to
replace aging and broken down fire
apparatus.
State Rep Jeff Noble reported last
week funding had been secured in the
state budget to boost public safety,
libraries and economic growth to area
communities. The budget which nowhas
final approval includes a $400,000 project
for Plymouth Township for a new fire
engine.
The new truck will replace the obso-
lete 29-year-old 1989 open-cab design
vehicle that is no longer manufactured
for safety reasons, as firefighters ride out-
side of the cab. The trucks are now illegal
in some areas. Phillips estimated the
township is forced to spend more than
$20,000 annually for maintenance to keep
the vehicle on the road, adding that many
of the discontinued parts must be custom
made.
Funds for the township fire depart-
ment dried-up in 2012 after previous
township officials closed Wilcox Road
Station 2 and reduced staffing by more
thanhalf.
According to Phillips, the purchase of
the new fire apparatus is “a good start.”
The township currently has three aged
fire engines, the newest of which is 18
years old. The other two fire trucks are 26
and 29 years old.
In a report to board members in
February 2017, Phillips said that because
of staffing cuts and neglect of equipment
maintenance, he was forced to operate
without sufficient staffing and broken-
down equipment. He said the safety and
rescue gear is out of compliance with the
National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) safety recommendations, citing
obsolete air packs, old power-lift cots and
outdated defibrillators. He reported of
the two fire engines in service both were
badly rusted-out and the one with open-
cab design the tank is almost completely
rusted and the vehicle is not equipped to
carry the Jaws-of-Life.
Since that time, township officials
approved the re-opening of Fire Station
2, purchased two new ambulances, two-
way radios, defibrillators and hired addi-
tional staff. The township recently
approved the hiring of three more fire-
fighter/paramedics.
The dedicated effort by new officials
has not yet addressed the absence of an
aerial ladder truck, and expensive fire
engine estimated to cost nearly $900,000.
The township does not currently have an
aerial ladder truck and cannot facilitate
rescues in more than a one-story build-
ing. The department relies onMutual Aid
from other community fire departments
that add to response times, according to
Phillips.
The new fire truck will be custom
made to handle specific Plymouth
Township equipment and Jaws of Life. It
will take a minimum of 10 months build
time before delivery and will be pur-
chased at a volume cost advantage under
a purchase cooperative with the
RochesterHillsFireDepartment.
“In the next five years Plymouth
Township will have to replace three
ambulances and two fire trucks, all
before 2023. The current aging equip-
ment will have to hold out until then.”
Phillips said.
Don Howard
Staff Writer
Residents of Belleville Sumpter and
Van Buren interested in serving on the
area library board have until July 19 to
file nominating petitions.
Petitions will be accepted in the office
of the Wayne County Clerk until 4 p.m.
July 19 and must include an Affidavit of
Identity and must include the required
number of signatures of register voters.
The petitions can be obtained at the
county clerk's office or from the local
municipal clerk's offices, where other
requirement details are also available.
Those who wish to have their names
on the ballot for election to a four-year
termon the board can also submit a $100
non-refundable fee with the petition in
lieuof petition signatures.
Currently, the terms of Lachelle Reed
Caver, Mary Jane Dawson, Sharon
Peters and Tanya Stoudemire will
expire.
We Can Do It…
The Belleville Area Museum at historic old Van Buren Township Hall was honored
with the first Rosie the Riveter Floribunda Rosebush garden in southeast Michigan
last week. This area was known as The Arsenal of Democracy during World War II
and is the home of the most famous, Rosie the Riverter, Rose Will Monroe, who
worked at the Willow Run Bomber Plant. Ten original Rosies and their families
along with friends and tri-community leaders including Belleville Mayor Kerreen
Conley, Sumpter Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis and Van Buren Township
Trustee Sharry Frazier gathered for the honorary planting ceremony. Four of the
new variety of roses, developed specifically to honor the women, were planted.
Also in attendance were American Rosie the Riveter Association President
Donnaleen Lanktree, Michigan Chapter representative Jeannette Gutierrez and
Indiana Chapter President Angie Timan-Morthland. Visitors may view the memori-
al garden located on Roys Street behind the old Van Buren Township firehouse
and directly across from the Chase Bank drive-through window. The museum
Rosie the Riveter exhibit will continue through September. The Willow Run Drill
Team Tribute Rosies represented the Tri-Community and the Arsenal of
Democracy in the national Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. yester-
day.
