The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Conflict brewing over MAFD
Fire board operating without updated agreement since June
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008
Wrangling over the use of the word "shall" and "may," as well as lease terms surrounding maintenance costs, has left the Milan Area Fire Board without an operating agreement since the previous one expired June 30.
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"There are some issues that need to be resolved," said York Township Supervisor Joe Zurawski. "We've got a real mess here."
If not resolved, the impasse could result in dramatic changes in fire and rescue services for area residents, including the possible dissolution of the fire board.
The Milan Area Fire Board is made up of two representatives from four neighboring municipalities: the city of Milan, and York, London and Milan Townships.
The city currently pays roughly 42 percent of the fire department's budget, compared to York's 21 percent, Milan's 18 percent, and London's 15 percent.
At issue is the city's contention that it should not have to shoulder 100 percent of the maintenance costs for the building that the fire department leases from the city.
"In the past, the city has not been getting a fair shake," said Councilman Brett Moyer, who represents the city on the fire board along with Mayor Kym Muckler. "We're simply asking the townships to share in future maintenance costs."
But Zurawski argues that as the landlord, the city should maintain the building.
"The real crux of the issue is that in all the previous leases, the city was responsible for maintenance," Zurawski said. "The building is in extreme disrepair. They've let the building deteriorate."
The city leases the building on Wabash Street to the fire department for $17,000 a year, which city officials contend is well below market value.
The city is negotiating hard to either share the costs of maintenance with the townships or raise the lease rate to cover maintenance costs.
Seven months ago, the Milan Area Fire Board unanimously approved a new operating agreement on June 21, but the Milan City Council was never presented a copy of the agreement to approve.
"It appears to have been an administrative glitch," said Muckler, who officially took office earlier this month. "It looks like we've been stonewalling, but we haven't."
That agreement included language that said the city "shall" lease the building to the fire department.
City officials originally sought to have "shall" changed to "may," but were unsuccessful.
The council last week authorized its fire board representatives to return to the board Feb. 21 with a revised agreement that says the city "shall" lease the building to the fire department on the condition that the Milan Area Fire Board agrees to a lease and honors its terms.
"We simply want to be in an agreement that is beneficial to everyone, not just the townships," Moyer said.
"To my way of thinking, we need to get this operating agreement signed and out of the way and then worry about the lease," Zurawski said.
On that point, township and city officials agree.
"We believe the lease should be a separate issue from the operations agreement," Muckler said. "We really want to get this resolved by March."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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