Police, fire officials recommend replacing aging generator to protect dispatch and emergency services

The Police Commission voted to recommend that the township approve replacement of the department’s aging backup generator, saying the existing unit is past its expected service life and poses a public‑safety risk. The commission approved a formal recommendation and directed staff to prepare a letter to the township endorsing the project.

Commissioners and public‑safety leaders said the generator, manufactured in the late 1980s and installed about 1992, has exceeded its typical service life. Police Chief said, “you should replace this 10 years ago,” and explained maintenance staff have found at least two oil leaks and that the unit “is 33 years old.” The chief said the generator is run weekly for testing and has been exercised at an 80‑kilowatt load for multihour stress checks.

The issue matters because commissioners and staff said losing the generator would degrade multiple emergency functions. The police chief described that a failed generator would disable the dispatch center’s computer‑aided dispatch and radio systems, forward 9‑1‑1 calls to other jurisdictions, interrupt jail operations and prevent charging of air tanks used by dive and rescue teams. “If you lose dispatch, you lose the radio system right here,” the chief said.

During the discussion, staff and commissioners gave technical and cost details discussed in the meeting: the current unit is natural‑gas and rated at 80 kilowatts; the commission is considering a roughly 100‑kilowatt replacement; temporary rental units were estimated at about $900 to $1,100 per day plus an initial delivery charge of about $2,000; and lead time for a new permanent unit could be “a couple months.” The chief also said the existing unit has a persistent oil leak in the oil pan and additional leakage at the intake manifold and oil pressure sensor.

Commissioners said funding for the replacement would not come from the police or fire operating budgets but from accumulated cell‑tower revenues reserved for capital projects. A board member noted the commission had asked CE Raines to project‑manage the procurement so the department’s work is independently overseen.

The commission asked that the fire commission be given advance notice of the township agenda item so the fire commission chair could attend; the police chief confirmed the project is shared between police and fire. After discussion, members voted in favor of forwarding a formal recommendation to the township; the meeting record shows support with no recorded nays and directions to prepare a written recommendation for the township board. Miss Shelton was identified as the person who would present the commission’s recommendation to the township.

Next steps: staff will finalize a written recommendation and coordinate with the fire commission and CE Raines before the township considers the expenditure. The township’s formal vote and any procurement steps were not part of this meeting.