Empire Township residents will have a lot to consider at the township's Annual Meeting March 29.

Township supervisor Bill Bolton is hoping as many residents as possible will attend to discuss the township’s fire and rescue department.

At a special meeting Jan. 23, the Township Board unanimously approved moving forward with efforts to establish a 24/7 full-time paid fire and rescue department. Bolton, who also serves on the township’s fire board, said the initial plan is to have two full-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians (EMTs) live at the Empire fire hall, with the existing paid part-time members augmenting the full-time roster.

The Township Board also approved having plans drawn up and a cost estimate developed for converting the meeting room area of the Empire fire hall into living quarters.

Clerk Christine Neiswonger said Tuesday the board is having architect Rick Woods draw up plans for converting the space into a two bedrooms, a bathroom and small living room/kitchen space. Neiswonger said the board does not plan on releasing cost figures until it has solid estimates.

In 2000, Empire Township voters approved a 10-year property tax to fund fire and rescue services. The township was given authority to levy up to 5 mills each year to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the fire department, and to pay for the township’s portion of a contract with Glen Arbor EMS to provide ambulance service to the township.

Bolton said due to rollbacks enacted on the millage under the Headlee amendment to the state Constitution, Empire Township was only able to levy 4.25 mills in 2007. The levy will generate $625,000.

“We’re confident that we’ll be able to do this with the millage we have in place, that it will cover all expense related to the fire and rescue department,” he said.

The goal is to merge the Empire and Glen Arbor township fire departments into one. Bolton said the township departments have always worked closely together on training and exchanging information, given how close they are geographically. “Ultimately we believe this will save both township’s money by eliminating the duplication of services,” he said.

The ultimate decision, though, will be based on the public’s reaction at the Empire Annual Meeting. “If the public at the annual meeting decides they don’t want this, we’ll have to make a decision on how to proceed,” Bolton said.

Like most township departments in the county, Empire has struggled with keeping a steady roster of paid volunteers available to respond day and night.

“We just don’t have the volunteers like we used to,” Bolton said. He also asked township residents to hold off making judgments as to the necessity of the change until the township has all pertinent information.

“The Annual Meeting is where we really need the public to come in and take a look at what we’re presenting. Then we can move forward,” Bolton said.

Glen Arbor Township supervisor John Soderholm is calling the tentative plan a good deal for both communities. “The EMS agreement has worked very well for both townships,” he said.

The Empire and Glen Arbor fire boards will meet on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Glen Arbor Public Safety Building to discuss the possible merger.