A fire truck showed up Friday morning at the home of Oxford resident Margaret Payne.
It wasn’t there responding to an emergency situation. It was there to pick up Payne for her last day of work.
After 20 years with the department, Payne retired from her position as finance manager.
‘It’s really been a great job,? she said. ‘It’s probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I love that everyday is a little bit different. There’s always something new, something exciting going on.?
When Payne joined the department in 1995, she was a part-time clerk responsible for filing and typing.
Over the years, her title changed and her responsibilities grew until ultimately, she became responsible for handling the agency’s budget, payroll and other financial aspects.
Payne never took her job lightly.
She always watched the finances like a hawk to ensure the department wasn’t overspending.
‘I consider this my money,? she said. ‘I’m responsible for it.?
Payne’s commitment to the department extended well beyond business hours. She’s done everything from working on ‘quite a few millage campaigns? to cooking at the station in the middle of the night, so when the firefighters came back from a call, they would have a hot meal waiting for them.
Fire Chief Pete Scholz referred to Payne as ‘the glue that holds everything together? at the department.
‘She was my sounding board,? he said. ‘I ran ideas past her.?
Payne’s knowledge, her experience, her attention to detail, her compassion and her devotion will all be greatly missed, Scholz said.
‘I’m fiercely loyal to this place,? Payne said. ‘I would defend the people here to the death.?
That’s why she took it so personally back in June 1999 when voters failed the fire operating millage because it was part of a combined public safety millage that would have also supported the police department, which at that time, was rife with scandal and controversy.
‘It was the only thing that took us down,? Payne said. ‘Those were awful times. We kept asking (local officials) to separate us, and they kept saying no, no, no. They didn’t want to lose their police millage. But the very first time they separated the two millages, ours passed.?
That’s because, in general, Payne said, ‘This community really supports this fire department.?
‘We wouldn’t have what we have today if it wasn’t (for the residents),? she said. ‘We wouldn’t have all the great equipment that we have today and these beautiful stations.?
Payne recalled when she was hired there was only one full-time firefighter, former Chief Jack LeRoy, and the only fire station was a polebarn tucked behind the village offices on W. Burdick St.
‘We were in that little tin building and we shared an office,? she said. ‘We couldn’t back up our chairs at the same time.?
Eventually, Oxford residents voted to approve additional funding that allowed the department to build two new stations and employ 13 full-time firefighters including the chief.
Despite all this growth, Payne said paid-on-call firefighters remain the ‘backbone? of the department.
‘We couldn’t make it without them,? she said. ‘We can’t run with only 13 firefighters. It’s just not possible. We have to have the paid-on-calls. They’re so important.?
Payne knows firsthand how hard these volunteers work and what they give up to serve their community. Her husband Pat was a paid-on-call firefighter for 17 years.
Paid-on-call firefighters must always be ready to rush off to the scene of a fire, vehicular crash or medical emergency.
‘Anytime, anywhere, they respond,? she said.
Payne recalled how often her husband was called away from holiday meals, family time or just a Saturday night at the movies.
‘Tone goes off, there he goes,? she said. ‘To do that once or twice a year, that’s not a big deal. To do it constantly, the way these guys do . . . it’s an amazing sacrifice. They’re truly dedicated people.?
Payne’s husband has been retired from his job for two-and-a-half years, so she decided it was finally time to join him.
‘He’s home having fun and I want to have fun with him,? she said.
Payne plans to spend her retirement visiting her five grandchildren, who live in Harbor Springs and Ann Arbor, and doing some traveling.
Destinations include Florida in the winter and a cabin in West Branch in the summer, plus a dream trip to Europe.
‘We’re going to Italy in September,? Payne said.
She’s looking forward to exploring the Mediterranean country’s rich historical and religious foundations as well as the famous cuisine. Though she’s not Italian, the country holds great significance for her as a Catholic given its home to Vatican City.
‘It’s a fascinating culture,? she said. ‘That’s been on my bucket list for 20 years. It’s some place I’ve always wanted to go.?