Woodhaven, MI, Firefighters Get Thumbs up from Voters

It was a resounding “yes” from Woodhaven residents on whether or not to significantly upgrade fire services in the city.

Tuesday’s election results on the emergency services millage got two thumbs up from voters.

Unofficial numbers show the proposal got 5,198 yes votes, 77% of the vote.

The fire millage passing is a weight off the shoulders of Woodhaven Fire Chief Brad Myles, who is excited for the future and now looking forward to the department serving the city in a much improved way.

Woodhaven Fire Chief Brad Myles pulled out all the stops supporting the millage, even walking Hall Road Tuesday with a sign encouraging a vote in favor of the proposal.

He did it to draw attention to the ballot issue and to show some leadership to his firefighters.

“I took the day off,” Myles said. “I wanted to walk on Hall Road because there are polling places there, and if anyone had questions I could answer them. It just showed firefighters if you want something you go after it.”

The fire chief said he had some firefighters make the walk with him.

This was just one way the department brought the millage to the forefront.

There also were videos posted on the city and department’s websites offering information in question and answer, and lecture formats.

As a result of the Woodhaven fire department millage passing some big changes are in store for the city and firefighters.

“We did a great job on social media,” Myles said. “The citizens have always given us what we need.”

He stressed the campaign was an all hands on deck effort with Mayor Patricia Odette, Deputy Fire Chief Chris Davenport, and other members of the Woodhaven City Council.

The question on the ballot asked if the charter should be amended to permit the levy by the city of an additional tax in an amount not to exceed 3 mills for five years to be used for providing emergency services for the fire department, dispatch, and protection from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.

City officials were hopeful it would pass since the proposal essentially would replace an expiring 3 mills for debt consolidation and road improvement millage meaning it would not come at an additional cost to taxpayers.

As a result of the successful vote, residents can expect, according to the department, the following:

• Double CPR survival rates

• Double cardiac arrest save rates

• Reduced 911 response times

• Reduce dispatch cost by more than 60%

• Eight new full-time firefighters that are trained paramedics

• Establish a full-time fire department

Odette’s was counting on the millage to pass, saying it would make the city even safer than it is now.

“It’s long overdue,” she said.

From the information the department has shared with the public, it was said that the millage can take a “good” department and make it a “great” one.

One way that is expected to materialize is Woodhaven being in a better position to retain its top firefighters. Myles said many firefighters, the majority of them part time, stay with the department a while and then leave for other Downriver departments where they can work full-time and settle into a career.

That is what he wants for Woodhaven firefighters and believes the millage upgrades will do just that.

Myles grew up in the city and said he has seen a lot of changes within the past 50 years. He said things have been built all around the fire department.

When he came to the department in 1996, Myles said it took in about 800 calls annually for service.

The department is on pace this year to handle 2,500 calls.

Another unique factor about the city is that there are a couple of thousand senior citizens living in Woodhaven.

“People like it here, and they stay,” the fire chief said. “Downriver is getting older and we want to keep some of our home grown.”

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