Facing a nearly $200,000 funding gap, the Glen Arbor Township Board last week approved a plan to borrow internally in order to move forward with long anticipated renovations to the Glen Lake Fire Department’s main station.
The special meeting, called to finalize how to pay for the project, lasted just minutes. With little discussion and no public push-back, board members unanimously approved a resolution allowing up to $300,000 to be transferred from the township’s unrestricted funds to cover the shortfall.
The renovation, which focuses on the living quarters at Station 1, is expected to cost about $625,000. Roughly $432,000 is already available though designated capital funds and recent tax collection, leaving the remaining gap to be filled through the temporary loan. The funds will be repaid through winter taxes.
While the vote was straight forward, the project itself has been years in the making.
Fire Chief Bryan Ferguson told the board at the April meeting that planning began in early 2024.
“A lot of this is bringing the station up to where it needs to be for the people who are using it every day,” the chief said.
The project will primarily overhaul the living quarters, where on-call staff eat, sleep and spend long hours in between calls. They will also replace windows throughout the building while office areas at the front will remain largely untouched.
If all goes according to plan, construction could begin as soon as June, with completion expected in the fall.
To help offset costs, the department is also exploring the sale of an older ladder truck and engine, which could bring in additional revenue though the amount will depend on market conditions.
The township has already invested more than $31,000 in architectural and engineering work, leaving the project essentially ready to begin once the funding was secured.
