UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township's Central Fire Station, located on Clinton Street, has been operating for more than 50 years. However, township officials say it cannot serve the area for much longer.

“Our emergency management system is more important now because of all the things that have gone on in our country—terrorist attacks and those kind of things, even tornadoes— we’ve had to upgrade our technology, and that station just isn’t capable of servicing those kind of upgrades,” said Fred Cowper, Meridian Township fire chief.

The new Central Fire Station will be built on the vacant lot west of the Okemos Post Office on Central Park Drive. It will be technologically advanced and more progressive, with separate dormitories and bathing facilities for men and women. A three-story training tower for firefighters will also be included in the plan, but will only be built if the project's budget allows.

According to Ray Severy, director of Public Works and Engineering for Meridian Township, sustainability and energy efficiency will be incorporated into the new station’s design.

“One thing that I want to talk to them (DLZ, Michigan architects) about is to have them start looking at sustainability of the entire project, look at porous pavement. I know our Recycling Energy Coordinator would like to have them look at the possibility of using some kind of solar energy for some of the power for that,” Severy said.

Chief Cowper expects to finalize a contract for the new station by the end of summer, and break ground on its construction by October.


ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Central Fire Station construction project is now in the design stage. For more information on the station's sustainable features and its new location, tune in to Meridian Magazine LIVE Monday June 10 at 5:30 p.m.