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MILFORD - The sign outside Milford proclaims it as a nice town with nice people, but Monday's meeting was anything but nice.
The ongoing dispute over a proposed rescue truck for the community's fire department was fueled again with allegations of backdoor political activity and insensitivity to public safety.
At one point, town council member Don Wolferman said he was considering a motion that would pull the town out of the fire-fighting business by selling off the fire department property and leaving the township to handle the responsibility.
Town council president Douglas Ruch quickly doused that flame, saying such a move would have an "extremely negative" impact on the town's future.
The dispute, which heated up in December, pits the Milford Volunteer Fire Department against the town council. The department contends it needs a rescue truck to carry equipment on emergency runs.
The town declined any interest in supporting the acquisition and then-new Fire Chief Ned Hunsberger vowed to begin collecting money through fund-raisers and have the department build a truck itself.
After six months, Hunsberger has completed several fund-raisers, including a photo promotion in which 109 area families participated Sunday.
Hunsberger had not calculated the entire revenues from the benefits, but arrived Monday night at the town council meeting asking if the town would purchase or pay half the cost of a chassis.
Of the two council members present, Ruch supported the idea, but Wolferman remained opposed, saying the department doesn't need it. The third councilman, Robert Beer, was absent.
The vote only stirred the controversy more, with Hunsberger accusing Wolferman of not providing taxpayers with adequate public safety.
"I'm looking out for taxpayers' dollars," Wolferman said.
"No, you're pinching pennies," Hunsberger said.
Hunsberger and an EMT at the meeting, Rich Rhodes, asked repeatedly who opposes the purchase of the truck. They claim they know of few if any opposed to the truck.
Hunsberger vowed not to drop the issue and to return to the monthly council meetings until they agree.
"Do I need to bring the (25) firemen with me or the whole town?" he asked.
The fire department works under a shared agreement between the town and Van Buren Township. The fire house is located in a building provided by the town. Each has provided trucks and equipment in the past.
Further straining the issue is the fact that the pumper truck owned by the town has been inoperable for several days. Hunsberger pointed out that as a result, the town has been officially unable to provide fire protection to its residents.
The heated debate reached a boiling point when Rhodes questioned why township trustee Dallas Winchester had failed to take a stand on the issue. Rhodes suggested "backdoor politics" might be the reason.
Winchester, who serves as the town's public works superintendent, was visibly bothered by the comment, but cut off by town attorney Jay Rigdon, who said Winchester was not in a position to speak as township trustee during town meetings.
Such issues should be discussed at township meetings, Rigdon said.
Afterward, Winchester said he has nothing to hide. He said the township is accumulating funds to purchase a pumper, which was agreed upon with the fire department.
Since the fund originated four years ago, the township has been able to save about $40,000, Winchester said.
Oddly enough, the issue ended on a friendly note with Ruch and Wolferman thanking the fire department for their fund-raising efforts and attempts to get the pumper truck fixed.
