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said, no longer meet basic safety require-
ment.
During his report, Wendel was subjected
to nearly constant interruptions and ques-
tions from trustees. Treasurer Ron Edwards
and Reaume refuted his comments through-
out the presentation, while Township Clerk
Nancy Conzelman implied that Wendel
should be performing firefighter duties if the
department was so critically understaffed.
Wendel told the board members that the fire
department staff has been “effectively cut by
one-third” while the number of fire and
emergency runs continues to increase.
“We are doing as much as we can with the
resources we have available. The way you
have to look at this is what level of service do
you want to provide for the people?” Wendel
said. The chief attempted to explain the diffi-
culties experienced when the outside ambu-
lance company, HVA, is not in the area or not
available for back up EMS service, citing the
danger to patients. Wendel also said the need
for an aerial ladder truck to accommodate
two-story home fires and rescues of various
types is crucial. Currently, the department
has no way to battle fires of more than one
story or perform rescue work above ground
level.
“There's no sense in buying a piece of
equipment you only will use once or twice a
year...besides, nowadays (when there's a fire)
everybody's coming,” Edwards retorted,
referring to the Mutual Aid agreements with
other communities.
At the end of his presentation which also
detailed the age and poor condition of both
the firefighters' safety equipment and the
medical equipment, such as defibrillators,
used in medical emergencies, Wendel sug-
gested two options to provide adequate pro-
tection for the community.
The first was a dedicated fire millage for
all departmental expenses including staffing
and equipment. He suggested that at the cur-
rent rates, the department could be funded
by a 2-mill tax. The 2-mill rate would gener-
ate about $3,450,000, andwould cost the aver-
age Plymouth Township homeowner about
34 cents per day or $125.35 annually to fund
an adequate fire and EMS service. He added
that if the township would allow the fire
department to perform patient transports to
hospitals, as is the standard practice in most
communities, that practice would generate a
minimum of $400,000 annually toward the
fire department budget.
Wendel's second option was a joint agree-
ment or merger with Northville Township to
provide a combined fire and EMS service for
the 56,021 residents of the two communities.
He said the population breakdown would
require Plymouth Township to pay 49.1 per-
cent of the joint department expenses while
Northville Township would pay 50.9 percent.
Wendel stressed this breakdown was based
onpopulation, not use of services.
“This model for fire and EMS service
would reduce overall operating cost and pro-
vide the highest level of service (vastly
improving service levels) for both communi-
ties,”Wendel concluded.”
John Werth, public safety director in
Northville Township said that municipality
wouldbewilling to discuss suchan option.
“Northville Township will always look to
in enhance service to its residents. We work
cooperatively with other agencies on a daily
basis...you have to have a willing partner
with the ultimate goal of maintaining cost,”
Werth said, regarding the proposed joint
agreement.
The monthly Mutual Aid Study for
Northville Township indicates that
Northville Township, in conjunction with the
Western Wayne County Mutual Association
partnership, provided mutual aid to the
Plymouth Township Fire Department a total
of 39 times so far this year as opposed to
receiving mutual aid from Plymouth
Township in return only seven times.
ference,” she said. “With my background in
business leadership, continuous improvement
and teamwork, I know that I can help the com-
munity.”
Williams is a frequent critic of the city and
speaker at council meetings. A retiree from
Ford Motor Co., she started the Romulus
Citizens for Social Change in response to con-
cerns she had about city policies. She said she
wants to promote transparency and accounta-
bility in the city, restore the trust and integrity
of the government and bring shopping centers
to the city.
“I see the footprints that my parents and
grandparents left for me to follow are disap-
pearing,” she said. “We need to do something
and go in a different way for the generations
behindus.”
Wood is an attorney, a public safety officer
and former member of the JROTC program
who served for three years in the army. He's
currently a lieutenant candidate in the River
RougeFireDepartment.
“I have shown the ability to lead in many
areas,” he said. “I think I candefinitely help the
citizens of Romulus.
Napiorkowski is an Air Force veteran and
former UAWworker who served as city treasur-
er from 1987-1997. Currently, he is the owner of
Woodshop Creations, a Romulus business he
established in 1987. He also served on the
Library Network Board, the Wayne County
LibraryBoard and theRomulus LibraryBoard.
He said he hopes to restore city services, imple-
ment a full-time fire department and review all
city contracts for compliance and cost-saving
opportunities.
Wadsworth is the longest-serving member of
the council. He said he wants to continue to
serve in order to see through the challenges
facing the city today.
“We must first deliver the basic services to
our residents: police, fire, public works and city
hall services,” he said. “I fought to reopen the
library, and I will fight to reopen our city parks
and the recreation department. These are the
basic services our citymust have.”
Choate served Romulus for 26 years as the
city clerk and was elected to the council four
years ago when she retired from that spot. She
said her top goal is to reopen the city parks
when funds become available.
“I have a lot of administrative experience
and a lot of legislative experience,” she said.
Roscoe is seeking her second term. She has
also served two terms on the Romulus School
Board.
“I think we are making strides, I think we're
in a good spot to move things forward and I
want to use the experience of the past four
years to helpmove things forward,” she said.
Barden has a degree in business administra-
tion and marketing. He has served for two
terms on the council
“I've done the best I can to make the deci-
sions that put the city first and the residents
first,” he said. “With your help and support we'll
keepmoving forward.”
The candidates discussed topics such as a
five or 10 year strategic plan, as well as the pos-
sibility of consolidate or outsourcing jobs.
“We need to think in terms of efficiencies,”
said Wood. “If that means consolidation, so be
it-but not to the point where we lose jobs. We
need to be efficient aswe canbe.”
Wadsworth agreed, saying he was against
outsourcing or eliminating jobs. He pointed to
the Romulus Animal Shelter, constructed pri-
marily through donations, that now brings in
revenue fromother communities.
“We have to begin to think outside the box
and give our taxpayers a better bang for their
buck,” he said.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
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AGE
2
October 24, 2013
Chief
FROM PAGE 1
Council
FROM PAGE 1
We are doing as much as we can with
the resources we have available.
The way you have to look at this is
what level of service do you want to provide for the people?
”
P
LYMOUTH
- R
OMULUS