MayfieldTwp. Fire Dept. start-up costs: $3.5M (From 2-25 County Press)

[William Gavette]

Original Article HERE

Officials focused on assessing property owners
BY ANDREW DIETDERICH
810-452-2609 • adietderich @mihomepaper.com

Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell estimates it will take $3.5 million to start the Mayfield Township Fire Dept.
Photo by Andrew Dietderich
Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell estimates it will take $3.5 million to start the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Photo by Andrew Dietderich

Start-up costs for the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. are now pegged at $3.5 million – a figure that could be passed on to residents via an assessment equal to “approximately one pizza dinner or several Starbucks drinks per month.”

That’s according to a “worksheet” and “inventory list” created by Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell, and distributed by him to township board members on Feb. 12.

Because it was not given to anyone in the audience – nor any details discussed during the public meeting – The County Press requested the document through Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act.

The County Press also requested informational packets passed out by Township Supervisor Dianna Ireland about starting a fire department. Like Mitchell’s handout, no details were provided to the public at the meeting, nor any copies distributed.

Mayfield Township charged The County Press

• An article produced by the Michigan Townships Association called “Compensating fire chiefs.” The article is dated November 2014.

• Two printouts from the Michigan Townships Association “Answer Center” on its website: one called “Fire Chief Sample Job Description” and another called “Fire Departments and Fire Protection.”

• A print out of Michigan’s Police and Fire Protection Act 33 of 1951 that, among other things, parcels, and $550 assessed to vacant industrial sites.

About $509,112 (total) would come from assessments on parcels with structures. That’s based on $178 annually from assessments on agricultural and residential parcels with structures, $660 from commercial sites with structures, and $1,100 from industrial sites with structures. The majority of the $509,112 would derive from residential sites with structures since there are 2,492, according to the worksheet.

Another $125,000 would come from a “contribution from the township.” The worksheet does not say identify the source of the “contribution” from within the township budget.

Of the $683,114 in “projected annual inflows,” $432,000 would be used annually for 10 years to pay off a $3.5 million mortgage.

The department would have an operating budget of $250,000 on an annual basis, leaving a “surplus” of $1,114.

In a footnote, Mitchell says “after 10 years assessment amounts will decrease to only fund regular operating budget.”

Mitchell includes another brief statement at the bottom of the worksheet.

“The average cost for a residential parcel with a home located on it equates to: approximately one pizza dinner or several Starbucks drinks per month!!!”

In another document entitled “Mayfield Fire & Rescue Start-Up Inventory”, Mitchell outlines some of items (and costs) associated with starting the department.

Mitchell – who now has a seat at the board of trustees’ table – told the board he has “been working on some inventory lists” that he compiled by looking at “an actual catalog.”

“It’s a hypothesis…it’s a best guess...it’s what I’ve thought of all through the years in walking through other fire stations and looking at various things,” Mitchell said.

The “inventory list” calls for $1.5 million to be used for “fire station cost.” The document provides no details about how Mitchell came up with the figure.

Another line item, for “apparatus”, carries a $1 million estimate. Apparatus identified are: pumper; pumper – tanker (can be used as backup pumper), tanker (solely for water supply), rescue/ squad/quick attack, and brush grass fire truck. No details are provided about what each unit would cost, if they would be used/new, or any other information.

The line item for “firefighters’ gear & apparel” is $93,400 and another, for “firefighting & rescue equipment”, is $149,545.

Other miscellaneous costs make up the remainder of the estimated start-up costs, such as $2,000 for computer and furniture in the “chiefs’ room” and $7,750 for “kitchen.” The total estimated start-up cost is just over $2.8 million. However, Mitchell pits a “rounded” number at $3.5 million. There is no explanation given for why Mitchell “rounded” the figure up another $700,000.

Ireland – who did not return a message to The County Press by press time – said during the Feb. 12 meeting that it was “sort of a start-up budget, sort of.”

“That is…basically, yes…from the station up to the gear and all the guys to that point,” Mitchell said.

“But for the next month I’ll have something else for you guys, too,” he said. “I’m continually working on stuff, while working a full-time job so we’ll have more, every month I’ll have something for you guys to take a look at and discuss amongst yourselves, or for the board.”

On Jan. 8, township officials passed a resolution “establishing the township of Mayfield Fire Department.”

On Jan. 31 and Feb. 10, the township hosted public forums about the newly formed fire department. Many have expressed frustration about the how the fire department is coming together.

At its Feb. 12 meeting, the board appointed a deputy fire chief and created an advisory committee for the newly formed fire department.

Currently, Mayfield Township is serviced by Lapeer Fire & Rescue per a four-year deal that went into effect Oct. 1, 2017. The first year of the deal is costing Mayfield Township $185,000 with 2 percent annual increases.

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