By Phyllis Rose
A standing-room only crowd filled Brady Township Hall for the township board’s March 5 meeting, with many residents attending to voice their disapproval of the Township’s plan to withdraw from the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority and contract with Pavilion Township for fire services.
The matter was on the evening’s agenda. Before the scheduled vote on the withdrawal, several people spoke during the scheduled public comment time expressing their concerns in opposition to the plan. Their comments were met with applause from the crowd.
Megan Richardson, a firefighter with the authority, noted the loss of various emergency services for the area over the years. He called the Board’s proposed exit from the fire authority “shameful,” and encouraged members to reconsider. One reason she noted was the additional time it would take firefighters to get from Pavilion Township to locations in Brady Township.
Mike Dee, who has lived in the township for 70 years, asked, “Why take our tax money and give it to them?” He added, “We didn’t get a lot of say in this. We need to have a meeting with everybody involved.”
Randy Richardson, a member of the Township’s Planning Commission, who also opposed the withdrawal, recalled when he had a life-threatening situation years ago and was saved by local firefighters.
“If the firefighters hadn’t gotten there, the outcome would have been different,” he said.
When the withdrawal resolution came up on the agenda, the crowd’s disapproval continued with questions and comments being shouted at the Board.
Supervisor Randy Smith reminded them that public comment time was over, but he proceeded to explain the reasons for the Township’s decision to leave the Fire Authority. He noted how things have changed within the four townships and two villages since the authority was established 25 years ago.
There has been significant growth in Vicksburg, Brady Township and Schoolcraft Township, he said – so much so that Brady became eligible to become a charter township, a designation it now has.
Brady Township provides 25 percent of the Authority’s budget, the second highest contributor among the six members, Smith said.
In the future, Vicksburg will need to purchase a fire truck that will be able to deal with a five-story building at the mill development site. Brady would be responsible for 25 percent of the truck’s cost, he said.
“It is a disservice to our residents to be paying millions for equipment that will not be used in our Township.”
Smith also believes there is little chance of the township getting a fire station within the township from the fire authority. If the authority builds one, it would probably be in the northwest part of Vicksburg where hundreds of new homes are being built.
It is possible the Township could get its own auxiliary station, he said, as he explained how the Township now has $400,000 in savings. That’s the amount the Township received in COVID funds which came with very specific guidelines on how the money could be spent.
The COVID money has been spent as directed, so Township money which would have been spent in those areas, is now in their savings, he said.
“We haven’t bought any land (for a fire station),” he said. “I have been talking to land owners who might be willing to sell land.”
He also explained that some insurance companies base their rates on how close the residence is to a fire station, with five miles being a standard. If the Township were to build its own central station, no one would be more than three miles away from the station.
“The Fire Authority concept has run its course,” Smith concluded.
The withdrawal will not take place for a year as required by the Fire Authority’s Articles of Incorporation.
“Nothing is changing right away,” he said.
Following his comments, people were still objecting and trying to ask more questions.
Township attorney Craig Rolfe spoke up and reminded them of the representative form of government, which means they elected the Board and it is then the Board’s job to make decisions on issues.
The Board then moved to approve the resolution to withdraw from the Fire Authority and to give Supervisor Smith approval to sign the agreement with Pavilion Township.
In other business, the Board voted on various issues related to the beginning of the fiscal year on April 1. A 2025-2026 budget of $964,760 was approved, a decrease from last year’s budget of $1,362,740.
Trustees approved Siegfried Crandall PC as their auditor. Meeting dates for 2025-2026 were set as well as the holiday schedule.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler, reporting on county matters, said parking may be a problem in downtown Kalamazoo due to the construction of a parking ramp.
Having recently attended the Wakeshma Township Board meeting, Gisler said, “Wakeshma is following Brady’s lead and is working with Climax to withdraw from the Fire Authority.”
Lieutenant Jam Vanzile introduced himself to the Board and citizens as their liaison from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department.
