MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Fire Department is looking forward to the acquisition of federal money to go towards its firefighters.

At the February 2nd Township Board meeting, the members of the Board voted unanimously to allow the Fire Department to apply for federal grant money through the Department of Homeland Security. The grant money would would give the department an estimated $200,000 or more to go towards assisting firefighters.

"You are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing, Chief, you are getting ahead of the train. Because this could be a year from now. So I apreciate what you're doing here," Meridian Township Board Trustee Milton Scales

The Board commended Fire Chief Fred Cowper for thinking so far ahead, both Trustees Milton Scales and Treasurer Julie Brixie felt from previous experience that the department was liekly to snag the grant. The exact amount of the grant has not been determined and the grant, or even the request, may not take place until 2017.