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Michigan City Council Votes To Layoff Entire Fire Department
WDIV
Reprinted with Permission
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Allen Park hoped to experience economic growth from the state's booming movie industry.
Related
However, after Unity Studios recently left the city, Allen Park is facing serious debt and is trying to avoid laying off fire and police services.
"The city is really in deep trouble and there is going to be massive layoffs with both the police and fire, and I want to fight to keep their jobs," said Dr. Robert Armstead, of Allen Park.
Armstead said he spent months going over the numbers. He said he can't believe the city is strapped for cash because it planned on the movie industry to save the day.
"There are so many people that are upset will all of this," said Armstead. "If they really knew all the facts, they'd be really upset."
In 2009, the city purchased a building for a movie studio, selling off more than $25 million in bonds.
However, Jimmy Lifton, president of Unity Studios, Oracle Post and Lifton Institute for Media Skills, did not have the financial backing he promised, the city said.
Now, Allen Park may have to make major fire and police cuts to avoid falling further in debt.
Allen Park City Council met Tuesday night to discuss moving forward.
Copyright 2011 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Reprinted with Permission
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Allen Park hoped to experience economic growth from the state's booming movie industry.
Related
- WDIV: Allen Park Is In Debt After Failed Try At Film Industry
- Detroit Free Press: Allen Park Firefighters Brace For Department-wi...
- Detroit News: Allen Park To Lay Off Entire Fire Department
- News Herald: City Council Approves Layoff
- WXYZ: Allen Park Sends Lay-Off Notice To Entire Fire Department
- Firegeezer: Michigan City Laying Off Entire Fire Department
However, after Unity Studios recently left the city, Allen Park is facing serious debt and is trying to avoid laying off fire and police services.
"The city is really in deep trouble and there is going to be massive layoffs with both the police and fire, and I want to fight to keep their jobs," said Dr. Robert Armstead, of Allen Park.
Armstead said he spent months going over the numbers. He said he can't believe the city is strapped for cash because it planned on the movie industry to save the day.
"There are so many people that are upset will all of this," said Armstead. "If they really knew all the facts, they'd be really upset."
In 2009, the city purchased a building for a movie studio, selling off more than $25 million in bonds.
However, Jimmy Lifton, president of Unity Studios, Oracle Post and Lifton Institute for Media Skills, did not have the financial backing he promised, the city said.
Now, Allen Park may have to make major fire and police cuts to avoid falling further in debt.
Allen Park City Council met Tuesday night to discuss moving forward.
Copyright 2011 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Richmond on
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I am absolutely baffled.
Being that I have served in our military and have been involved in Fire rescue either as a vollie or Paid Firefighter since 1978 I am not one to advocate revolution, but in this case I will wholeheartedly support my brothers and sisters as well as the citizens of Allen Park in any way that they choose to stick it to the city officials.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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Andrew, supporters of the cause will need to grow a set and demand stand-by fee's for an automatic aid service agreement then.
Otherwise these politicians will just say, well we will just call upon the town next door to help us out mutual aid.
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The thing is the definition of MA; Mutual aid - to provide a resource or service for which the town recieving the said services will in good faith, return or recipricate the same level of resources or service(s) in the future if called upon.
Automatic Aid requests are BS. If I am a taxpayer, I am paying for the services of my town fire department, to protect my house not for thy neighbor for who was NOT fiscally responsible.
If I was a neighboring Fire Chief, I would ask for a huge amount of money as a stand by fee, thus stating that this is not mutual aid agreement, it is a contracted service.
That changes everything.
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You are correct, but when it comes time for confrontation most tend to find their nads shriveling instead of becoming brass.
I was born and raised in the Detroit area (a long time ago) and I'm not sure that the neighboring communities will be able to offer much support as far as responding on the initial.
Something tells me that the city officials will be looking at a contract department to replace the city funded department.
Several years ago Allen Park was named by Money Magazine as one of Americas best small cities and is now the practice home of the Detroit Lions as well as the teams headquarters so at one time in the not so distant past this city had money. Its a shame that the officials have driven this attractive community into this type of situation. TCSS
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Howdy Ralph,
As you know most of the time you and I are not too far apart on our thinking, however on this one I am taking issue with your wording, "Maybe city hall dwellers should get the pink slips......."
I feel that the turds that are running and ruining Allen Park need to be fired on the spot.
Take Care Brother
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I have spent several nights that I'll never remember in Toledo, and yeah the politics from South East Michigan and your area smell the same. Its a shame that the politics and greed have ruined a beautiful part of America.
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Permalink Reply by William Allan Milfred Harper on
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I have just read that Michigan is laying off their entire fire dept, why not the mayor and council . The police
and fire dept and medical personnel are a vital part of the community . I suppose that the city will want
to put these people on a volunteer schedule . The question is these people worked hard to keep the city
fire free, and now this is what happens , just to save money . Do the fire and police not have a union .
I believe that if there were less council members , and spending money on things that is of no importance,
then maybe there would be some money in the kitty .
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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Residents get the chance to lay off the entire council and mayor every few years. Let's see if the famous American attention span lasts that long. I'll bet most of them are re-elected with no trouble.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Kulczyk on
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That just about sums it up, chastising the Fire or police dept. to get a point across to the residents. I cannot even fathom a professional Fire Dept. like APFD, right around the corner from me, being shut down. For shame. Sets the tone for other cities. I know my city voted down the tax hike so there goes the parks, library, rec. dept.
JK
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Permalink Reply by Gary Hammer on
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Why not sell the damn building?
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Permalink Reply by Marty D. Ross on
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Now that is just wrong They need to pull their heads out and think this will cost much more in the lomg run mostly in lives and property. They need to try again. being an asst. chief of a volunteer department we must support our brothers and sister any way we can THIS IS BULL>...........
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Permalink Reply by Francis L. Cook Jr. on
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The shame of it all is that someone will "NEEDLESSLY" die. The studio should front what mnies they have...the city should attempt (hopefully) sell the building. The citizens noe Public Safely sgould jeapordized on a city counscel spin of the wheel. I feel surrounding jurisdictions will assist whenever posible, maybe even "move in" to protect and serve the city.
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