MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Steps are being taken in both directions regarding the new fire station to be built on the corner of Okemos Road and Central Park Drive in Meridian Township. Updated design plans and final budget were presented to the Township Board at their meeting December 2nd. Final approval by the Board is expected to take place on December 9th.

“We actually put this out for bid once and went way over budget, so we hired a construction manager to come in and help work with us and the architect to downsize the fire station and make other changes to get us within budget," Meridian Township's Director of Public Works and Engineering Raymond Severy said.

The new fire station has been opposed by the adjacent neighborhood since it was first approved by voters in 2012. Residents who oppose the project aren’t necessarily opposing the new fire station, but are instead opposing how and where it is being built.

Residents of the Autumn Park Condominiums, located on Central Park Drive across from the new fire station have recently filed an Application for Leave to Appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, asking the court to review the case. The Township’s response is due in mid-December and the Supreme Court will make a decision on whether to accept the case soon after. The residents have filed two previous lawsuits against the Township, both of which were dismissed by the Ingham County Circuit Court earlier this year. In June, the residents asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to review one of those decisions, but the Court declined to do so.

According to Meridian Township Finance Director, the Township has spent more than $35,000 in legal fees for the building of the new fire station.

In 2012 voters approved a $3.5 million millage to build a new fire station. The new fire station will replace the old Central Fire Station on Clinton Street, which was closed earlier this year due to the condition of the building.

Ground breaking of the new fire station is expected to take place in March 2015 with the opening of the new fire station on December 15, 2015.