DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Officials from Dearborn Heights and Garden City met on Monday to discuss the next step toward the possible merger of the cities’ fire departments.
While the proposed consolidation is in the information-gathering stage and details remain unclear, Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko said the discussions have been productive and that everything is still on schedule.
“So far everything is going well, and all the parties are working very well together. I think it has some real good possibilities,” said Paletko.
He said the two sides, which include Paletko and Garden City Mayor Randy Walker, as well as representatives from each fire department and the unions, initially met on May 31 to share information and to determine whether the idea of combining fire services was worth pursuing. He said everyone agreed that a decision should be made on whether the merger would work or not within 60 – 90 days. Read the Re
Actually the insurance companies rate on response time so it will effect your insurance rating. My husband talked to his district manager, your rates will go higher regardless of what u seem to think.
My understanding is that the fire houses remain where they are and neither department loses personnell. Why do you think the coverage will be spread thin? It appears that the cost saving is in reducing duplicate positions (they don’t lose jobs, those folks just move into jobs open due to retirement..etc.) Citizens may actually gain more coverage as there is closer back-up.
Has anyone thought of what this might do to our homeowners insurance. When u spread the department thin, it will change the cities fire rating. This will effect your rate. My husband is an insurance agent. So if anyone is wondering where I got the info.
What will the merger do with are taxes concerning the police and fire pensions. Will Garden City be entitled to jump into are employee’s pension system and contracted benefits.
Garden city passed a firefighter millage this spring. Signs were up all over the city thanking the voters.
There is a problem with a merger between Dearborn Heights and Garden City. We have a specific millage just for the police and fire departments that Garden City does not have and neither does Dearborn. This will be a major sticking point in any real serious negotiations between other municipalities and our city. I think the mayor needs to address this issue before going any further. You can’t put the cart before the horse and expect it to work..