City wisely moves
forward with Novi Fire
Department upgrades

9/6/07

Novi's Fire Department has always been a model of efficiency. Staffed by career firefighters and augmented by dedicated paid-on-call members, our Novi Fire Department has long provided excellent service to the people of Novi.

We need to ensure we continue to give them what they need to do their jobs well, for everyone's health and safety.

City Council recently approved renovations for Station #2, located on Thirteen Mile near Walled Lake, recently. Two other stations are in need of upgrades, but the locations of both stations is in question.

Station #1, located in front of Novi's Main Street development, now looks out of place and is located in a very high traffic area. A new station in a better location makes sense in the long term, especially since the station sits on such valuable land.

Station #3, located on Nine Mile Road, is also land-locked by both train tracks and area businesses. It makes good sense to study relocating this station, as has been discussed recently.

With all the new housing, an expanded Twelve Oaks Mall, a new hospital coming soon, and many hotels and businesses locating in Novi, our Fire Department is being stretched a little thin.

We the People continue to be quite pleased with our fine Fire Department. Under the capable leadership of Fire Chief Frank Smith, this tradition will continue, but only if we continue to provide the resources they need to do their jobs.

When you're out and about town and pass one of the three aging fire stations in Novi, glance at them and think about all the new developments in town they're protecting that weren't there 20 years ago.

Our Novi Fire Department does an amazing job. Let's keep in that way.

p.s. - This nice, warm extra week of summer is
        sure welcome. The cold stuff isn't far away...