UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Building and Public Works Departments have received bids on the cost for the temporary location at the Meridian Service Center estimating between $24,000-$34,000. Construction should be underway and complete within 30 to 45 days.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township is placing a temporary fire station in the Service Center building on Gaylord Smith Court off Okemos Road.

"We came back due to cost and location to trying to use our own facility because it will save us a lot of money," said Meridian Township Manager Frank Walsh.

The Service Center is used by other township departments and will be re-purposed with the technology, living quarters, and safety equipment to be used by the Fire Department.

"The Service Center will be a great asset temporarily, but not optimal. It will certainly help protect our township," said Meridian Township EMS/Fire Chief Fred Cowper.

However, the temporary location does pose some risk.

"Okemos Road floods south of that facility, so you could come out and have a train on your right and a flood on your left," said Cowper.

With the heavy rain and melting snow the water level of Lake Pine Outlet is rising. The water runs alongside both sides of Okemos Road with the temporary fire station only several hundred feet away.

"So there could be times we're not going to run out of there dictated by flooding," said Cowper.

The Township had three fire stations until the recent shutdown of the Central Fire Station earlier this month. The station was built in the 1950's and suffered from water damage, a failing roof and more.

"In regard to what we plan to do with the former fire station- it's over 60 years old and it's in very poor condition so I don't think there is a real use to the building," said Walsh.

The Fire Department hopes their permanent station off Central Park Drive will be ready in the next year and a half.

Township officials do not know how much it will cost to re-purpose the Service Center, but say the changes will be useful to township employees for years to come.