Dexter Township residents to vote on new fire substation millage in November

(The Dexter Township Public Safety Committee has been working for 18 months. This error has been noted and corrected.)

Dexter Township residents will be asked to vote on an up to 1-mill tax levy for seven years on Nov. 6 ballot to fund a new fire and public safety substation at the corner of Dexter Townhall and North Territorial roads.

The resolution to put the millage language on the November ballot was unanimously adopted on July 17 by the Township Board.

Here’s what was approved:

Shall Dexter Township impose an increase of up to 1.00 mills ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for seven (7) years, 2012 through 2018 inclusive for the purpose of providing funds for the establishment and construction of a permanent fire substation in the township which 1.00 mill increase will raise an estimated $287,000.00 the first year the millage is levied.

• o Yes
• o No

The purchase of the 5-acre property and construction of a new fire substation, which will be manned round-the-clock by the Dexter Area Fire Department, follows a recommendation of the 11-member Dexter Township Public Safety Advisory Committee.

The committee spent about 18 years months researching recommendations for improved levels of fire protection and emergency services for all township residents.

“The substation is a great idea,” said Loren Yates, Dexter Area Fire Department chief, who said the location will assist the department for quicker response times and provide more room for the department’s apparatus, such as the new Gator, which was purchased through donations, as well as its boat.

Yates said a new substation “will help us plan for the future safety needs of the Dexter Township community.”

Assistant Chief Bill Wagner has been meeting with members of the township’s public safety committee to discuss “the amenities, (such as shower and sleeping quarters) needed by the firefighters, and the design of the building,” said Fire Lt. Tim Burke.

It’s expected that the new substation will meet fire protection and emergency service needs for at least the next 50 years, according to the board’s resolution.

“(Supervisor) Pat Kelly deserves all the credit for this,” Yates said, explaining that improving public safety and fire protection for all township residents has been her goal for many years.

“And, the public safety committee has done an incredible job,” Yates said, researching both police and fire safety needs for township residents.

Planned for the substation is a pre-engineered, metal building with a split-faced cinder block exterior for the office portion of the structure and a maximum of 2.5 double bays for fire apparatus, according to officials.

The building has an estimated cost of about $1.2-$1.6 million, which includes engineering, professional services, site preparation, utilities and construction costs.

The resolution to place the question on the ballot was made by Board Member Libby Brushaber and seconded by Board Member Steve Feinman.