MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Since 1999, there has been talk about replacing the Central Fire Station due to the condition of the building. Currently, Township officials are undergoing the process to make that happen.

According to a Fire Feasibility Study conducted back in March of 2012, it was determined the Central Fire Station was not worth the money to repair. All of this and more caused the Township to put a 3.5 million dollar Bond Proposal for a new fire station on the ballot in the November 2012 election which voters approved.

However, a Special Use Permit and Section 61 Review were required in order for the new station to move forward. The Planning Commission approved the Special Use Permit request on September 9, 2013, which was later appealed by residents.

According to Okemos attorney Lawrence Nolan, retained by Autumn Park Condominium owners who appealed the proposed fire station location, the Township did not provide all the information regarding the exact location of the new fire station when voters voted on the proposal in 2012 and also did not correctly notify residents regarding the Planning Commission’s public hearings, discussion, and action regarding the new fire station Special Use Permit.

On October 15, 2013, the Township Board held a public hearing to hear all residents interested in the appeal of the Planning Commission in granting the Special Use Permit. The Board decided to send this issue back to the Planning Commission and re-hold the public hearing to allow the public another chance to voice their opinions. The Planning Commission moved to approve the Commission Review of the Special Use Permit at their January 13, 2014 meeting, but due to the lack of majority vote the approval failed.

Since then, it's back before the Township Board and was an action item on the February 4, 2014 agenda.

Trustee Styka made a motion to have Township Manager Walsh and his staff take another look at the site. According to Styka, this rework will serve as a "compromise" for residents that are concerned about the location of the fire station.

The Special Use Permit and Section 61 Review should come back to the Township Board in 30 days, which would be at the March 4, 2014 Township Board meeting.