The problem:
“We've seen an exponential growth in the number of emergency calls that the fire district has to respond to and that requires more employees, that requires more space to house employees and office space and requires more space for vehicles responding to these emergencies.”
Saugatuck Township Manager Daniel DeFranco says another challenge is that the Kalamazoo River splits the fire district. Currently, services are located to the north in
Saugatuck.
“In order to get to the second population center in Douglas and all of the southern part of Saugatuck Township, you need to cross one narrow bridge and the concern is that if there's ever an emergency on the bridge or something that closes the bridge, the fire district is unable to respond to any emergencies occurring in the south side of the river.”
The solution: an expansion housed at the new Douglas City Hall building being built on Wiley Road with garages for equipment and quarters for staff.
Saugatuck Township will hold a $5 million capital improvement bond to pay for it which would be paid back through the fire district mileage to which all three communities contribute.
“I think it's municipal collaboration cooperation at its best, that Douglas can make a space available for the fire district and then the township can step in and help facilitate the bond to pay for the expansion which is going to see improved emergency service response for the whole community.”
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