Blissfield Fire Dept., township disagree on fire truck purchase

But they seem to disagree whether one should be purchased and, if so, what type of truck should be purchased sometime in the future. Both the township board and fire officials say this is a discussion that has been ongoing with the board for a long period of time.

At the last regular meeting of the of the Blissfield Township Board on July 12, the board stated that there would be no new fire truck purchased with township funds at this time. The township would update equipment, but no new truck.

The board said it was just reaffirming the decision of residents in the township. In May voters turned down a half-mill millage request for new equipment that was put on the ballot to potentially pay for a new fire engine.  Township Supervisor Lewis Bowman said with the number of people who turned out to vote “no,” he views it as people not wanting any new taxes in a difficult economy. 

“We have to live within our means,” Bowman said.

Blissfield Township clerk Nancy Cranor said the position of the township board is that they do not want to borrow money for such a purchase.

Blissfield Township Assistant Fire Chief Mike Frederick said it was a little upsetting to know the decision to not purchase a fire truck was made at the meeting after representatives from the fire department had left to attend their own weekly meeting.

Cranor said the statement came after some citizens at the meeting brought it up in discussion toward the latter part of the meeting and the timing of the statement was not meant as a slight to the fire department.

On July 19, the fire department had a used ladder truck in town for review.

Blissfield Fire Chief Gary Crist said he was unsure why the millage did not pass.

“People usually back us pretty well,” he said.

Copyright 2011, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

For Melissa Burnor's full story, please see the Aug. 10, 2011, edition of The Advance