Issue 10: Eaton Township seeks new fire station to handle growth

EATON TWP. — Voters are being asked to approve a 1.25-mill additional levy to build a new fire station, replacing one that is more than 50 years old and no longer meets the needs of the township. "In 1972, that station was built by people who were volunteers at the time," Fire Chief Bob Resar said. "I started with the department in '85 and my dad started in '68. From the time I am old enough to remember, I've been around that fire station." With its two drive-thru bays and one half bay, it was large enough to house the five emergency vehicles back then. But over the years, the department has grown. EMS was added in 1977, as was an addition. "Most of the work was done by volunteers and they didn't overbuild it," Resar said. Today, he plays a complicated game of vehicle Jenga trying to maneuver the trucks in and pull them out when needed, or just when they need to be cleaned. "Trucks are much larger now than they used to be," Resar said. "Eighty-five percent of our calls are ambulance calls. We're locked in on space. The bays aren't long enough or wide enough. We have seven pieces of equipment and seven spots. We buy equipment to fit the station, not the needs of the township." The station was not built for full-time staffing either, which it has with three part-time employees manning the station 24 hours a day. The restrooms are small and not Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. There are no showers or decontamination areas and there is no place for firefighters to spend the night. If the levy is approved, all of that would change. The township already has the land, just two doors east of the existing station. Ten years ago, when Dollar General purchased the land for its store, it purchased about 13 acres of empty bean fields and sold the excess land to the township. "It's not like once it's approved we would put the shovel in the ground the next day," Resar said. "If approved in November, the taxes wouldn't be collected until 2026, which gives us time to finalize plans. We would still have three to four years in the current station." The levy will raise $287,000 per year, and the cost of the new station is about $4 million. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $44 per year in additional taxes, if approved. "We know not everyone has the extra money and let's be honest, no property goes for $100,000," he said. "We want to give people time to adjust to the new county valuation first. We want to be able to look toward the future and plan for the future. This will be built for 50 years in the future." Money generated from the levy also would go toward future equipment needs for the department. — Christina Jolliffe