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WOOD Radio Local News

 

Byron Township Board votes to break from Gaines on Cutlerville Fire Station

GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The Gaines Township Board says it was surprised to find out the Byron Township Board voted recently to discontinue its co-ownership of the Cutlerville Fire Department.

The board in Byron Township is giving Gaines Township officials a one-year notice under the terms of a joint-operating agreement between the two townships, which are the fastest-growing ones in Kent County.

Gaines Township Manager Rod Weersing says that Gaines will offer a service agreement to Byron until both townships are able to operate independently.

The Gaines Township board held its regular monthly meeting Monday night, Aug. 14, and had a lengthy discussion about the Byron Township Board's 6-1 vote July 24 to phase out its committment to the Cutlerville Fire Station. That leaves Gaines officials with the option to either take over complete ownership of the fire station on 68th Street or consider building a new one. Gaines Township Supervisor Rob DeWard said Byron Township trustee Tom Hooker cast the lone dissenting vote.

Weersing mentioned that Byron Township is providing Gaines Township with one year of notification under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement.

"Both departments will not be ready to act independently in one year. Somebody's going to have to build a fire station," he said. "Once that year is up, Gaines will offer Byron an agreement for service. So, we will continue to provide service to the Byron area until both townships are ready to operate in that area independently. Then it will go to a typical mutual aid ... situation."

Weersing said he estimates the two townships will continue to officially work together on fire services for about two years before the separation takes full effect. He added that Byron Township Supervisor Donald (Amos) Tillema is trying to keep the relationship between the respective officials in both township amicable.

"In the long run, we need our departments to work together," Weersing said. "And he is trying to be agreeable and understanding about some of the tough decisions that need to be made."

The only other fire station that serves Gaines Township directly is the Dutton Fire Department, 3471 - 68th St. SE. That is about 4-1/2 miles from the Cutlerville station and is owned by Gaines Township.

“There has been talk about a split for 15 years,” Tillema said in an email response to a Sun and News inquiry about the reasons for the Byron board’s decision to split with Gaines when it comes to ownership of the Cutlerville fire station. “I know they feel that we should have had some type of joint meeting before we even set up the committee. I do not think that would have changed anything. The Byron Board feels that we have grown enough over the years we think we would be better served with our own station in the Cutlerville area."

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