Summary
The Kasson Township Board held a special meeting on August 28, 2024, chaired by Supervisor Julian, to discuss progress toward a new fire station. The board voted to sign a contract with Ray Kendra of Environment Architects for pre-design and programming work, and held extended discussion on potential station locations, funding, and coordination with the four-township fire agreement. A tentative follow-up meeting was set for September 25 at 6 p.m.
Public Comments
Rick Royston, a Cleveland Township resident and former five-year fire board representative, raised concerns that the project could threaten the integrity of the four-township fire agreement. He argued a fire board committee should have been included in the discussion, said fire protection costs could double with a new station, and suggested mutual aid might suffice. He later thanked the board for including the fire board but urged that all options be explored before any financial commitment.
Chris Hauke stressed that fire service protects life and property, identified the M-72 and Burdickville corridors (including the school and nursing home) as most vulnerable, and asked about response times and potential Benzie County coverage. She later noted preliminary drawings would help outreach to other townships, and that design typically must precede funding efforts.
Chris Logan, a 31-year fire service veteran, supported doing the project correctly based on his experience with prior station designs. Don Drabik said a concrete drawing was needed so residents could discuss the same plan, and later emphasized that location was the key issue, citing a friend's 20-minute fire department response time on the township's west side. Mike Lanham suggested fire staff should begin working with the architect and that Kasson should proceed alone if other townships decline to participate in construction.
Infrastructure Projects
The board approved (Boomer moved, Noonan seconded, motion carried) a contract with Environment Architects for pre-design and programming services on a proposed new fire station. Architect Ray Kendra explained that funding must be identified before any construction bid process, and that no construction timeline exists yet. Two general locations are under consideration: M-72 and Burdickville Road. The Noonan family has offered a land donation at Maple City Road and M-72. Noonan moved to approve that property; the motion failed for lack of a second. Boomer stated she favors the M-72 site based on a service area assessment and a letter from the Fire Chief, citing higher call volume, commercial/industrial growth, and limited mutual aid options there. Noonan and Boomer both noted a commercial-area site would draw less public opposition than a residential one, referencing past pushback over a proposed site near Myles Kimmerly Park.
Financial Summary
No specific dollar figures were given for the architect contract or land donation. Boomer reported that budget figures for operating a new station are being developed, focused on building operations rather than new staffing. Funding sources for construction will be explored after the initial design phase, per Julian.
Other Business
The board discussed possible cost-sharing or staffing agreements with neighboring townships depending on the station's eventual location, per Julian.
Action Items
Kendra will work with Fire Chief Andy Doornbos to develop building needs, to be presented to the board and community at the tentative September 25 meeting before conceptual renderings begin. Julian will work with the Fire Chief on outreach to other townships/jurisdictions, and the fire board is to review the location letter from the Fire Chief. Concerns about the four-township agreement's future remain unresolved and were reiterated by resident Rick Royston.