By David Fleet
Editor
Groveland Twp.-On Monday night the township board of trustees examined the structure of the fire department, the long term financial sustainability and the short/long term needs.
At issue is finding a plan for the township fire department financial projected shortfall. Township officials say that over the last 10 to 15 years, that given a fire department budget of $1.2 million about $26,000 per year is left over after expenses. The funds are not enough to buy and replace costly fire department equipment.
“We have been looking for the past two years at the fire department operation,” said Bob DePalma, township supervisor. “We have an interest in exploring solutions and we want to talk about those issues and make sure we understand before we move forward.”

By a 5-0 vote on Monday night the township board of trustees OK’d that DePalma discuss with the North Oakland County Fire Authority and consider joining. Prior to the vote a fire department study was presented to more than 60 who attend the meeting regarding the fire department operation. The results of the study prompted three options for the township: the NOCFA merger consideration or a proposal by Kevin Mason, township fire chief or a significant millage increase.
Rather than joining NOCFA, Mason suggested the department maintain where it is now until 2021, then revert back to the 2006-07 fire department personnel numbers of one person at township Fire Station one (Dixie Highway) and two at station two (Grange Hall Road). The paid on call firefighters would then back fill the station or report to a call, fire or accident when necessary.
In 2013 the fire department responded to 2,247 calls. In 2019 the calls dropped to 950 with the same fire department staff after they no longer responded to the Village of Holly or transport patients.In contrast, in 2006 the township responded to 1,150 calls a 58 percent decline from 2013.
“Even though it’s a step back we have history to show that we were manned well enough in the 2006-07 era, and we are over staffed now,” said Mason. “I would then have the flexibility when we need more people we could do that, not just everyday. Without raising the millage we could cover that.”
Another option was to merge with NOCFA.
NOCFA was formed in 1984 and is located in Holly and Rose townships. In 2008, NOCFA was organized under Public Act 57-1988, Emergency Services to Municipalities, it allow the fire authority to become its own entity to provide fire service. Each municipality provides two elected officials for the fire board with one citizen at large. The current primary response area is 69 square miles.
“NOCFA is audited each year similar to a municipality,” said Jeremy Lintz, NOCFA fire chief. “The fire stations are deeded over to the authority, in the event it dissolves they will go back to the municipality.”
Lintz said that currently, Rose and Holly townships are paying $680,000 each year for the fire services. Like, Groveland Township the NOCFA ISO rating is 3 and the response time in the authority area 7 minutes.
“We don’t compartmentalize, it’s not Rose and Holly township rather we are all one authority with one budget,” he said. “It’s like a school district across several townships.”
Several factors were discussed during the meeting that prompted the consideration of NOCFA, Mason’s plan or even raising taxes. Significant in the discussion was the township population that grew from 2,404 in 1960 to 6,150 in 2000, then dropped to 5,476, in 2010. That 11 percent drop in population cost the township about $400,000 over the past 10 years, said DePalma.
Other considerations included 40 percent of the township is owned by the State of Michigan or Oakland County. The property is not on the local tax rolls, rather compensation comes from state through Payment in Lieu of Taxes which is significantly less. Also, prior to the 2008 Great Recession the township was averaging 32 new homes per year. Now, for the last 10 years an average of 5.3 homes per year are constructed.
“It’s never going to be built, we have more state land than anywhere else in Oakland County,” said DePalma. “The loss in population drove a ton of money out of the township.”
The decline in population is a mixed blessing, he said.
“If you ask the people out here, we moved here because we love the big open spaces, all the state land, big lots. And we have maintained that. The problem is if we have a money issue we are not going to out grow it.”
Several residents along with township firefighters responded to the study and the consideration of the merger.
“I don’t want my tax money going to another agency I have no control over,” said one resident. “That should alone create a vote to give my tax money to somebody else. It’s unconstitutional to me.”
Some residents suggested a tax increase and some firefighters offered to work without pay to keep it the way it is.
Further discussion of the township fire department issues is expected in January.