Mich. city hopes grant will bring new fire station

By Kyle Feldscher
The Bay City Times

BAY CITY, Mich. — Bay City's West Side could be home to a new centralized fire station if the city's application for a $3.3 million federal grant is approved.

Bay City commissioners approved the idea of applying for federal stimulus money for the station, to be housed in Defoe Park, during Monday's City Commission meeting.

The deadline to apply is Friday. The city may not know for a year whether the grant is approved.

The new station would replace Stations 4 and 5. Fire Chief Greg Michalek said the new station would provide a better coverage area within city limits, as both Station 4, 212 Dean, and Station 5, 1209 E. Smith, have significant portions of their coverage areas in the townships.

"There's not the staffing (for two stations). We're laying off six firefighters" Michalek said.

Michalek said the department is tentatively looking at an area at the end of Defoe Park's parking lot at Marquette Avenue and Bradley Street for the new station. He said the department is still researching the area.

City Manager Robert V. Belleman said it takes three firefighters to run one engine at a station. The current level of staffing at Stations 4 and 5 mean that if one firefighter called in sick, the station would have to close.

"Staffing is less of a challenge than (it is) having two stations," Belleman said.

The $3.3 million would cover the total cost of building the new fire station, with the city contributing $160,000 for landscaping and other costs.

The money would come from federal stimulus money in the form of an Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grant. About $210 million is available to fire departments throughout the country.

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