MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Board held a virtual meeting on Tuesday, November 17th.

Meridian Township Fire Chief Mike Hamel was present at last night’s meeting and introduced a new full-time firefighter/paramedic to the Township Board. The Fire Department has been looking to fill vacancies since April.

The new employee is Steven Garelik, who currently works at the University of Michigan hospital as a tech in the pediatric ER. Garelik attended the Fire Academy in Genesee County in 2011 and received his paramedic license from the Genesee MS in 2014. Chief Hamel expressed that he is excited to have him in the Meridian Township Fire Department.

Garelik was also present during his introduction from Chief Hamel and said “I’m excited to come to Meridian Township Fire Department. It’s always been a dream of mine to become a firefighter and paramedic and I look forward to starting with the Township, and I want to thank the Board for allowing me to come and serve the community.”

In addition to Garelik, the Fire Department will also be welcoming another new employee. Angela Kohls just graduated from the Lansing Community College (LCC) Fire Academy last night and will soon start her role as a fighter/paramedic for the Township. Kohls has been a paramedic for ten years , as well as an instructor for the paramedic program at LCC. She was also the first person within the Meridian Township Fire Department to go through a sponsorship program provided by the Township. This program provides wages and covers the cost of tuition for candidates that are sponsored. This program is similar to one implemented by the Meridian Township Police back in 2018.

Garelik will begin his full-time position at the Meridian Township Fire Department on Monday, November 30th, with Kohs beginning in December.