Bronson Fire Board approves satellite station
BRONSON — The Bronson Fire Association will build a satellite fire station in Gilead Township on Southern Road just west of Gilead Lake Road to improve response times for the area.
The Branch County Road Commission will lease the land next to its gravel pit for $1 a year for 99 years.
The board approved the work after Gilead, Noble, Bethel, and Bronson townships guaranteed to cover the up to an estimated $140,000 cost.
Matteson and Batavia townships, the other two members of the six townships’ 192-square-mile district, were assured they bear no construction costs. All six will cover maintenance and utilities.
“(Contractor) Dan Hershberger agreed to build the building if the firefighters come and help (as a donation.) We will be paying for the materials for the actual building," Fire Chief Scott Wilber said.
Former Gilead Township trustee Chuck Shimp will donate all the site excavation, including the septic drain field.
Wilber said completion would be after “talking to the contractors, definitely, by the end of the calendar year.”
Gilead Township will pay 50%, Noble Township 30%, Bethel Township 15%, and Bronson Township 5%, based on the area of each of the four townships within five road miles of the site.
Wilber said those properties should see savings in insurance rates because of the better response times.
Noble Supervisor Henry Metzger said the township examined other allocations, which all were very close.
Wilber started investigating a satellite station for quicker response to the southern township because now seven volunteers live nearby.
“This means they would respond to the satellite station for a fire in the area without traveling to Bronson for a truck. This results in a quicker response time," he said.
The chief said the department would consider a satellite station in Batavia or Matteson when more volunteers live in those townships. Now there are only two.
Prior story Bronson satellite fire station ready for board action
Gilead Township will add a township hall on one side of the two-bay pole barn-type building, supervisor Debbie Burzynski, and trustee Richard Chard told the board.
“This is our chance to have a new hall for between $60,000 to $80,000,” Burzynski said.
The township will construct bathrooms and a meeting room attached to the fire station.
The current antiquated hall at Snow Prairie and Booth roads needs adequate restrooms. The building requires extensive renovations estimated at twice the cost.
The supervisor said she would request a reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the township hall project.
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Gilead Township voters approved a 1.25 millage for fire last year. Those taxes will be collected starting in November.
---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Bronson Fire Board approves satellite station
