Royal Oak Township Could Lose Fire Department

[seamusg]

Royal Oak Township could soon lose its fire department over budget cuts.

Nineteen firefighters who are expected to be laid off will attend a town hall meeting Thursday morning, Local 4 reported.

The firefighters -- who do not want to be identified -- said they believe the township board will make a deal for the Ferndale Fire Department to handle firefighting services in Royal Oak Township.

Township supervisor William Morgan said the option is under consideration, but no deal has been signed.

"We've heard that we will be gone as of Aug. 1," said an unidentified Royal Oak Township firefighter.

The firefighter said that his department expects to receive pink slips at the town hall meeting.

Morgan said that no layoff notices will be delivered Thursday and that the township board will discuss their options. He did not deny that the fire department could soon be closed, saying that fire departments need to "regionalize," Local 4 reported.

The township has lost revenue and tax base, and needs to cut costs, according to Morgan.

Firefighters said they are concerned about their livelihood and the safety of Royal Oak Township residents.

 

[MacombMonitor]

I could not beleive this when I heard it. What really shocked me is those firefighters are only getting paid $9.00/hr, and no benifits! I think I heard most of them were only part time too. What the Hell! Skilled, trained firefighters, risking their life, trying to save others, and only getting paid $9.00/hr, and no benifits! That should be illegal! They're probably better off if they do get laid off! It sounds like some very serious mismanagement of funds if you ask me. They should come to Macomb Twp, as they're building a new fire station right now, and hiring additional firefighters.

Fast Food managers are getting $9.00/hr, with benifits!

 

[seamusg]

The township has lost revenue and tax base

If I remember right, Royal Oak Township lost half of it's tax base to Oak Park a year ago.

 

[Thunderbolt]

If I remember right, Royal Oak Township lost half of it's tax base to Oak Park a year ago.

That is correct. I remember watching this on Ch-7 News, and they had no idea at that time how it would affect public safety services in the community. Sadly, Royal Oak Twp. is roughly a square mile wide, which is much less than it was many years ago. Ferndale and other neighboring communities have done a great job at eating away at their land over the past few decades. Soon it might cease to exist at all, much like other townships in Wayne County that have vanished in the past half-century.

73's

Ron

 

[seamusg]

A one time it actually covered what is now Roal Oak City. The Township address is now in Ferndale. I believe it is the smallest Township in Oakland Co.

 

[Thunderbolt]

A one time it actually covered what is now Roal Oak City. The Township address is now in Ferndale. I believe it is the smallest Township in Oakland Co.

Actually, I think it's the smallest township in the entire state of Michigan.

 

[feta92]

No actually Lake Twp. in Macomb Co. is the smallest Twp in MI. Lake is in between GP Shores and SCS. It is where the sign on Lakeshore says welcome to Macomb Co. south of Marter and the sign that welcomes you to SCS.

I was a ROT firefighter back in the 90's when it was a PSO department, or a combination of both. What was criminal then is that we were only making minimum wage, no benifits and only one guy on the rig in the north end which is now Oak Park. So you would wait 4-5 minutes for the cops to show up to help you with the firefighting, that whole place is criminal.

 

[seamusg]

At least Lake Township has money.

Lake Township - Area between Grosse Pointe Shores and St. Clair Shores; boundaries are the Milk River, Lake St. Clair, and Eight Mile Road. Most of the land now belongs to the Edsel Ford estate. (MIGENWEB)

 

[jim202]

Sounds like the fire districts need to merge together and work as one. Just closing the barn doors and kicking everyone out is not much of a soulution. There are a number of long range ramifications that this will effect.

One of the main concerns I would expect to see down the road is just how the ISO or who ever rates the fire insurance there reacts to this move. If the fire department is closed, it will cause responce times to jump way up. This time is just one of the factors that will effect both home and business fire insurance rates. Rates for the fire insurance cost will go up shortly after the insurance companies learn of the fact there is no local fire protection.

Not sure how your medical calls are handled, but the responce times for them will also go way up if the fire department was supporting medical calls. Help for auto accidents and all the other normal calls a fire department support come into play here.

If the township fathers have any smarts, rather than just closing shop, they would be better off looking at the surounding agencies and see what kind of a deal they could work with them. You have the manpower, the equipment and a lack of funds to operate it. Like was mentioned before, I would consider a form of regional operation. Maybe even a county run operation. The major expenses are payrol and equipment fuel and maintenance.

Don't go into the meeting with an attitude of you can't do this. Go in there with some suggestions on how the issue may be solved. It will help everyone in the long run.

I have been in the volunteer Fire service for over 35 years and there isn't much I haven't run into. Stop belly aching and come up with some ideas. A plan with some suggestions will get you much further that shouting at the town fathers over what they see as a money problem. You all let this happen with property being allowed to be taken by the surrounding communities. Now all of you work together to solve it.

Jim

 

[seamusg]

This is more of a lament for Royal Oak Twp. The township has already closed the FD. Royal Oak Twp. is on the boarder of Detroit on the south end of Oakland Co. There is almost nothing left there. I don't think anyone wants what's left of it.

 

[gpp10x]

Royal Oak Twp losing FD.

Here is a link to a newspaper article about the impending demise of the ROTFD.

http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/072205/loc_20050722002.shtml

 

[feta92]

It would not surprise me if the township totally dissolves. I would not be at all surprised if it just became part of Oak Park or Ferndale or a little of both. :?

 

[seamusg]

It would not surprise me if the township totally dissolves.

I don't know what Michigan law is if a township dissolves or if it can.
I don't think Oak Park or Ferndale want what is left of Royal Oak Twp.