New Fire Station to Accommodate Growth in Kalamazoo County (MI) Township Could Cost $5M

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — Cooper Charter Township is growing and driving the need for more fire and other services.

Township Supervisor Jeff Sorensen said with population growth comes an increasing demand for emergency services.

Conceptual plans for a new fire station to accommodate growth were presented to the township board at the Jan. 13 meeting but no vote was taken. Construction could cost anywhere from $3 to $5 million, Sorensen said.

Sorenson served 20 years in the township fire department, including 12 years as the assistant chief. When he was first elected supervisor in 2000, the census reported 8,754 residents. In 2020, the number rose to 10,418.

The average call volume in 2000 was about 200 a year, Sorensen said. In 2024, there were 812 calls for service.

The station needs to be staffed around the clock, he said, but the current facility can’t accommodate overnight stays or new equipment.

“We’ve basically really outgrown it,” Sorensen said. “Fire equipment is getting bigger and the fire station has not gotten any bigger in many, many years.”

The current fire station at 3160 McKinley Street is just 3,956 square-feet, per public records. The conceptual plans for the new fire station included:

  • Sleeping quarters with three separate rooms
  • 3,270 square-foot community room for training and events
  • Three 2,880 square-foot truck bays
  • A fitness room
  • Kitchenette

“The board has not made a decision to move forward,” Sorenson said. “(It’s) simply looking at this option and exploring the costs and how it can be paid for.”

Sorenson said he would like to see a new station built in the next for years.

The community room could be used for training, events and a voting precinct during elections, he said.

The existing building would be demolished, per township documents. Using land the township already owns will help cut costs.

The funds for construction could be collected through a millage, which residents would vote on, Sorenson said. The board could also establish an assessment district and collect funding from taxpayers.

It’s a board decision, he said, but the board wants the community’s input.

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