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Odessa Township seeks $2M toward new fire station as lease ends and facility fails code
Summary
Odessa Township requested $2 million in state assistance toward an estimated $5–9 million new fire station. Officials said the department leases a building with structural, health and operational problems and that millages have passed to cover some costs but additional funding is needed to complete construction.
Representative Johnson presented Odessa Township’s request for $2,000,000 on June 11 to support construction of a new fire station after officials said the department’s leased facility is deteriorating and the lease will expire in 2026.
Lake Odessa Fire Chief Chad Perkins and Odessa Township Treasurer Sharon Rohrabacher described the current facility as landlocked, lacking training and rest facilities, possibly containing asbestos and mold, and providing only two vehicle bays with no overnight lodging or adequate decontamination areas. The department runs roughly 450–500 calls per year and has one full‑time firefighter plus paid‑on‑call staff.
Nut graf: Township leaders said they have two millages in place that raise about 2.5 mills and have raised local funds and that a farmer donated land for a potential new site; however, the total estimated project cost is $5–9 million and the township asked the state for $2 million as seed funding to proceed, including demonstrating partnership to voters and potential bonding.
Officials said preliminary architectural work, survey borings and wetland studies were underway; they estimated the station could support two full‑time firefighters and improve response times and firefighter safety. Treasurer Rohrabacher said final cost estimates could meet or exceed $8 million and the township would seek additional millages or bonding to cover the remainder if the state funds are not provided.
Ending: Presenters said they would phase work if necessary—starting with site preparation and low‑cost items—and continue fundraising and potential bonding if full funding is not secured.
