MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - After many long months of deliberation, the Township Board made the decision to approve the Special Use Permit to build the new fire station with a 6 to 1 vote at the April 1st meeting. Clerk Brett Dreyfus voted in opposition.

During the meeting, Meridian staff gave a presentation in front of the Board and community members to address concerning issues that were mentioned at the last Township Board meeting on March 18th. 

They addressed issues such as placement of the fire station, environmental issues with concerns to wetlands, and proximity of neighborhoods. 

Many Board members spoke briefly following the presentation about their opinion and why they felt the new fire station is in the right place.

Treasurer Julie Brixie, said that there has been a number of adjustments made to the plan that she thinks alleviates not all, but a lot of the concerns that have been raised to the board.

"This is something that we finally have found a way to come up with and meet the needs of the community, and we gave the question to the voters and the voters approved it," said Brixie.

"We've made a lot of adjustments to the plan and I think what we have is something that is very fitting for Meridian Township and something that will meet the needs of both the neighbors close, and the neighbors far away, and will most importantly, meet the needs of public safety for our community,” Brixie continued. 

Some members of the community however, did come forward to the Township Board to express their concerns and opposition against the fire station. 

“Our concerns are mainly with the level of noise that the station will bring to surrounding neighborhoods,” stated Juan Arellano and Olga Arellano in a letter to the Meridian Township Planning Commission and Township Board. “While it was considerate to move the entrance of the fire station off of Central Park Drive to accommodate the Autumn Park residents, this only moved the problem to the residents of the Ottawa Hills dumping grounds.”

With the approval, Meridian Township will now move forward with the design and site plan for the construction of the new fire station.