By Phyllis Rose
The Brady Township Board approved wording changes to the township’s emergency services special assessment document at a June 4 meeting. Changes were needed because the township is withdrawing from the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority (SKCFA) as of April 1, 2026, and is contracting with Pavilion Township for fire and emergency services.
The previous wording of the document stated money from the special assessment would go to the authority. But with the township’s withdrawal from that agency, the document needed to be more generic so that they and future township boards won’t have to make wording changes. The current changes cost the township $20,000, said Supervisor Randy Smith.
Approving the changes required a public hearing which was part of the June 4 meeting. In opening remarks to a roomful of attendees, Smith used a flip chart to detail the history of the township’s affiliation with the fire authority from its beginning 25 years ago, the changes over the years, and what the switch to Pavilion entails. The authority includes the townships of Brady, Prairie Ronde, Wakeshma and Schoolcraft and the villages of Vicksburg and Schoolcraft.
The many changes in these six entities covered by the Authority prompted the board to look into withdrawing, Smith said. The board voted to withdraw at its March 2025 meeting.
Among the changes were growth in the Village of Vicksburg such as renovations at the old five-story mill to turn it into a commercial and residential property. As a result, fire equipment will be needed to deal with a five-story building.
Smith also noted a massive amount of development is anticipated along the US-131 corridor which would require a lot of infrastructure improvements and perhaps taller buildings. Meanwhile, Brady has remained primarily a residential community.
With the changes in the other authority members, the result will be millions of dollars to be spent on equipment that will not be needed in Brady Township, he said, noting that the township’s share of the authority budget is 25 percent.
In 2015, Brady Township introduced a fire assessment fee for Township residents for fire protection, Smith said. That was followed by a $25 police assessment in 2024, bringing the total assessment to $100.
Smith explained the many discussions with Pavilion Township officials about their ability to extend coverage to r Brady Township. The benefits include the fact that Pavilion has full-time firefighters while the authority has volunteers. With a full-time staff, Pavilion can deliver faster response times.
There is also the possibility now of the Township getting its own fire station, he said, noting that the authority has no plans to build a station in the township.
Smith said that with $400,000 the Township saved by using money from federal American Rescue Plan funds as required for necessary expenses, it could build a 60-by-90-foot pole barn-style fire station somewhere in the center of the Township. Having a closer fire station could result in lower insurance premiums for homeowners.
That could make up for the anticipated $50 increase in the emergency assessment from $100 to $150, he said. The increased assessment fee will be discussed during a public hearing scheduled for July 2.
During public comment time, a couple of residents noted they had been angered when they read the letter about the public hearing that was sent to all residents. Some thought the assessment was going up $150. But both noted that after hearing Smith’s explanations, the anger abated as they saw the benefit in what the Township was doing.
Others said that a better-written letter would help calm things down. The letter was written by the township attorney, Smith said.
Resident John Stiers said that $400,000 would not cover the cost of building a fire station and that taxes would “go through the roof.” He also said he’s heard talk of building a new Township Hall.
“Every statement you’ve made is completely wrong,” responded Smith. “We have no interest in raising taxes. The fire station can absolutely be built for this amount of money.”
Smith said they should get enough land to make a nicer fire station at some time in the future and to have room for a new township hall.
“If we buy land for a fire station, it would be shortsighted not to buy enough land to build a new township hall,” he said. “But a new township hall is not part of this.”
The current township hall is built on the site of a dump, he said.
“The only thing the water is good for here is the toilet,” he said, noting the water cooler in the back of the room provided for drinking water.
Following the public hearing, the Board approved changes to the wording of the emergency special assessment document.
In other business, the Township approved an agreement with Pavilion Township, so that Pavilion will handle early voting in elections.
Prior to the regular meeting, the Board held its first workshop session, an idea that Smith got from the Michigan Townships Association. It’s a time for members of the board, five of whom are new, to get information needed for the meeting.
During this first workshop, Smith explained various budget amendments and the rules for public comment time.
Trustee John Meyer raised the topic of the damage being done to the roads by having five different trash haulers picking up trash in the Township.
“Should we being doing something to protect our roads?” he asked, noting that his thoughts are in the early stages, suggesting that perhaps the township could put the service out for bids and limit the number of trash haulers in the township.
