The headquarters, one of five fire stations in the city, has seen its share of problems over the years: issues with the building's HVAC system have taken place and Whitehead's office was plagued with mold several years back, requiring him to move temporarily as the issue was taken care of.

The department went before the city council at its last study meeting to describe the request, which included a proposal from Novi-based Sidock Group, Inc., to do the work. It was recommended for approval and will appear on Monday's regular meeting consent agenda, meaning it is all but approved.

Capt. Mike Kelly of the fire department said the proposed renovations will move the training room so talks and training could take place without being disrupted, as they can be right now.

"Right now, the meeting room we meet in is an open room that everybody that has an office that’s attached to it, they just kind of walk through it," he said. "So what we want to do is segregate the training room from all the other offices."

The renovations would be the most recent to Livonia's public safety offices; the police department lobby went through a renovation that ended just last spring.

Councilwoman Maureen Miller Brosnan said she was pleased to see work begin on the upgrades to the fire station, especially since public safety is one of the most important services residents say are important to them in the city.

“It’s excited to get this project started," she said. “Residents clearly indicate those services are more critical of the ones we offer.”

The Livonia fire headquarters on Farmington Road, south of Five Mile.(Photo: David Veselenak)