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FIRE STATION AGREEMENT
Visser explained that the City of Holland acted on the agreement recently. He
stated the township is to consider approval to proceed with the agreement and to
consider the Initial Aid Agreement.
Ken Fought, Park Township
Fire Chief, expressed that the mutual aid has been a very effective tool
in the area. He stated that this is a good project and well worth our
efforts.
Pat
Gamby, 719 Coolidge, member of Park Township & City of Holland Fire
Departments, stated the mutual aid with City of Holland is fantastic. He
felt it was wrong for the City of Holland and Park Township to enter a
joint venture and referred to a poll sent out to City of Holland
firefighters showing 27 opposed the joint venture. He felt there were
definitive boundary lines between the township and city. He referred to
the public meeting held at Maatman Center He also questioned who paid
the wage of the township member who responds to a city call, and felt
the current township station was adequate.
Al
McGeehan, City of Holland’s Mayor, expressed that the City of Holland
has supported the concept to enter a partnership and stated the language
of the contract is not a political document but rather framed by
firefighter professionals. He referred to the Maatman Center public
meeting. He sensed no significant opposition to this proposal and felt
that if we enter this jointly we would in the end have a better approach
to fire suppression. He commented this is not an effort to combine the
departments but rather a way to get more equipment and firefighters to a
scene.
Price
referred to page four of the contract and asked who typically would be
appointed to oversee the construction and completion of the fire
station.
Fought commented he would like to have Lt. Kirk Briggs and also
firefighter Scott Heerema who is project manager at Chrisman.
Price
referred to Page four Section 10 and questioned why the township is
responsible for maintaining the fire station.
Steggerda commented a representative from the Township Board and City
Council should also be involved in overseeing the construction.
Koopman stated he appreciated the comments that have been made but felt
from a logical standpoint this project makes good sense. He expressed
that this venture would be an excellent opportunity for further
cooperative efforts in the fire service.
MOTION MADE, MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Marsilje and supported by Koopman to approve the agreement between Park
Township and City of Holland for constructing a new joint fire station
at 160th Avenue subject to final form by the Township
Attorney. The Supervisor and Clerk are authorized to sign the agreement.
ROLL
CALL: UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Visser addressed that the initial aid varies from mutual aid in the fact
that in a structure fire both units would be dispatched and all other
fire calls the individual departments would respond.
Steggerda
inquired if the initial aid would involve more than what we are doing at
the present time.
Fought stated yes the initial aid would automatically tone out
assistance whereas with mutual aid the township would have to request
City of Holland assistance.
There
was some discussion about who would pay the firefighter as they begin to
respond in both the township and city.
McGeehan questioned if the initial aid could begin before the
construction of the building is complete.
Fought commented we could start the initial aid process before moving
into the station.
Price
asked for some clarification on page four section 5 of the initial aid
agreement.
Martin suspected a word was omitted from the first sentence.
MOTION MADE, MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Marsilje and supported by Steggerda to approve the initial aid agreement
which will provide aid by Park Township volunteer personnel and the
City’s part paid personnel in the area to be served by the new station
subject to final form by the Township Attorney, authorizing the
Supervisor, and the Clerk to sign the agreement on behalf of the
township and also subject to an agreement regarding the effective date.
ROLL CALL: UNANMIOUSLY APPROVED |
