The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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Washington seeks renewal
of fire and police millages

by CHERYL CISKE
Observer Special Writer

      On Aug. 5, voters in Washington Township are being asked to cast their vote in favor of renewing millages for both fire and police protection services.
       The millage renewal is for up to 3 mills for fire protection.
       "The fire millage is not a new proposal or an increase in the existing millage," said Fire Chief David Poterek. "This vote is to continue the same millage at the same rate for the next 10 years."
       The Fire Department currently levies 2.159 mills, which was reduced two years ago and has not been increased since. Monies will be used for fire department operation and maintenance, along with acquisition of fire extinguishing equipment.
       Residents with a home which has an assessed value at $200,000 and a taxable value of $100,000 will pay $300 annually for fire protection.
       The department's ambulance millage will be up for renewal in 2011. Previously, voters approved levying 2 mills for ambulance service. The ambulance millage was reduced two years ago, at the same time as the fire millage, and is currently at 1.59 mills.
       "If this doesn't pass, residents will have no fire department or fire-based EMS," said Poterek.
       Over the past two years, Washington fire officials have made improvements in the areas of operations, service, training, equipment purchase and hiring of personnel.
       Some of the improvements include: hiring three new full time and six paid on-call personnel, hiring a fire marshal who has updated the township's fire code, purchasing three new 12-lead electrocardiogram machines, purchasing a new fire truck, utilizing the hazardous material recovery cost ordinance to recoup wages and equipment cost, which has allowed the department to purchase new emergency equipment, obtaining grants for upgrading radios and the department's communication system and establishing a more efficient mutual aid pact with neighboring departments in Macomb County.
       In the future, Washington fire officials would like to establish an ice and surface water rescue operation to respond to near drowning and victims who fall through the ice. In addition, Poterek noted the department would like to purchase property and build a new fire station headquarters with administrative offices and a heavy rescue vehicle in order to carry the department's rescue equipment in one vehicle.
       "This department has worked very hard to provide an efficient quality service to this community," said Poterek. "We have received a lot of support from our community in the past and are asking for continued support to renew this existing millage."
       In addition, voters are being asked to renew a millage of 1 mill for police protection. Washington residents with a home which has an assessed value at $200,000 and a taxable value of $100,000 will pay $100 annually for police protection.
       Washington Township officials currently contract with Macomb County Sheriff's Department for police protection.
       Ballot proposals for fire and police millage renewals for Washington Township will not appear on ballots for Village of Romeo residents, according to Clerk RJ Brainard.