The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Fire department to see new boundaries
Milan Fire Department unhappy with losing Toyota oversight
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
A realignment of York Township's fire district boundaries, approved by its board last month, hands over emergency oversight of the entire Toyota property near Platt and Willis roads from the Milan Area Fire Department to the Saline Area Fire Department, leaving Milan firefighters feeling slighted and shortchanged.
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"This is a slap in the face for the Milan Area Fire Department," said Milan Fire Chief Dave Webb. "It was fine for us to cover state property for years when there was no money to be had, but now we're not good enough."
Webb said he intended to voice his displeasure over the redistricting at York Township's next board meeting April 10.
The redistricting came about following Toyota Technical Center USA's highly touted purchase from the state two years ago of some 690 acres straddling Platt Road for the construction of a new research and development facility. The Saline Area Fire Department serviced the west side of Platt Road, which is now sparsely populated, and the Milan Area Fire Department serviced the east side, where the former state psychiatric hospital stood.
Toyota officials preferred that a single fire department service the whole property, according to York Township Supervisor Joe Zurawski.
"The entire site needed to be under one fire department to avoid confusion," he said. "First-responder service is of critical importance to a facility the size of Toyota."
Toyota evaluated the Milan and Saline fire departments, submitting questionnaires and conducting site visits, before selecting Saline.
The township chose to realign the boundaries at its March 13 meeting, Zurawski said, as part of its efforts to craft a new service agreement with the Milan Area Fire Department to replace the current one, which expires in June.
"As expected," Zurawski said, "there are hard feelings."
Hard feelings isn't the half of it, said Webb, who said the change in coverage represents a loss of significant growth opportunity for the Milan Fire Department in the face of potential financial contributions from a civic-minded Toyota.
"(Toyota) meant a lot to this small department," Webb said. "We were seeing it as a giant step forward for us. It meant the difference in moving forward to having full-time firefighters, which may not happen now for 10 to 20 years."
The Milan Area Fire Department is an on-call fire department, whereas Saline has two full-time firefighters per shift.
Webb also complained that while he heard rumors of a possible redistricting nine months ago, he was assured by York Township officials at a fire board meeting as late as February that no changes were planned.
"The next thing we knew it was a done deal," Webb said, adding he felt blindsided. "We thought everything was fine, but apparently somebody thought different."
Milan City Council Trustee Mike Armitage, who sits on the Milan Area Fire Board, said he was disappointed with York Township's decision.
"It leaves me with the impression that Milan isn't good enough for that property right now," he said. "We're losing out on opportunities to grow the department."
"I think [York Township] feels the Saline Area Fire Department is more complete," said Milan Mayor Owen Diaz. "I can se Toyota is a big, big business. It is [York Township's] perogative. As much as I am saddened by it, it's beyond our control."
Saline Fire Chief Craig Hoeft said he understood Webb's concern and frustration.
"Toyota does present opportunities," Hoeft said. "Will I take advantage of the opportunity? Yes, I will. Everybody's on a tight budget."
Hoeft does not expect the additional coverage area to put any more strain on his department's resources.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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