Commissioners press for plan as Fire Station 5 repairs, staffing would cost millions; ARPA, millage and grants discussed

Fire Chief Rick Rowell presented detailed estimates and options for reopening Fire Station 5, telling the Bay City City Commission the project involves three cost categories: building repairs, equipment and personnel.

Rowell said personnel costs to staff Station 5 as described in an earlier resolution (two firefighters on duty as the baseline) would cost about $1,600,000 in year one for salary and fringe; that same staffing cohort would rise to a little more than $2,000,000 in year three, not counting the new equipment each firefighter needs. He also said the engine that had been removed (Engine 5) would need replacement; the baseline estimated cost for a new engine was about $874,000.

Rowell outlined the building repairs that prompted the station’s closure: roof leaks, drainage and interior water intrusion that caused mold and deterioration. He said replacement or heavy rehabilitation could be required in places because of long-term moisture and drainage problems. He recommended that the commission consider long-term funding strategies because personnel costs recur each year while building repairs are one-time capital expenses.

Commissioners discussed options including reallocating general fund dollars, issuing bonds (the director said the city’s bonding capacity without a millage was about $23.5 million and could reach about $30 million with a millage), pursuing state and federal grants, and placing millage questions before voters. Commissioners also noted the city had dedicated $10,000,000 in ARPA funds for lead-line replacements; staff said general fund repairs for public safety buildings are typically paid from the general fund.

Several commissioners and members of the public emphasized the geography of Bay City — bridges and railroad crossings — and the importance of neighborhood stations to response time. Chief Rowell said mutual aid from neighboring Bangor Township typically arrives in under five minutes for calls in the Station 5 area; commissioners discussed that mutual aid arrangement but said the city should not be wholly dependent on it.

Commissioners asked for more detailed contractor estimates for the Station 5 repairs and for a consolidated plan. Commissioner Prince and others requested itemized contractor bids for roof replacement, mold remediation and the list of small equipment replacements (for example, a breathing-air compressor the chief estimated at roughly $45,000). Commissioner Bernie Overshaw asked staff to provide formal contractor estimates rather than ballpark figures.

Public comment included local residents urging the city to prioritize reopening Station 5 and to keep neighborhood stations rather than building a single combined public-safety campus. Jill Causeley, a Banks-area resident, asked why money was available for other projects (a shelter addition, park improvements) while Station 5 remained closed and urged the commission to secure funds to repair and staff the station. Forrest Robinson and other speakers urged a strategic, citywide planning approach to align departmental priorities and funding.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to pursue a coordinated approach to public-safety infrastructure: they asked staff to develop a strategic plan (several commissioners called for a committee to guide public-safety infrastructure planning), to return with contractor estimates and funding options — including how existing restricted funds could and could not be repurposed — and to include staffing scenarios and lifecycle costs in future budget discussions.