MI Township Merging Fire, Police Departments

Oct. 04 -- HAMPTON TWP, MI -- Hampton Township's fire and police departments are to merge into a public safety model, where firefighters and officers are crossed trained to do both jobs.

The township's Board of Trustees on Monday, Oct. 1, approved the partial transition from two agencies into one, said Supervisor Terri Close. Six board members voted in favor of the proposal, while one voted against it.

This marks the third time such a merger has occurred in Bay County, with Essexville and Bay City having also adopted public safety models.

The Hampton Township development stems from Consumers Energy having closed its Weadock Generating Plant in 2016 and announcing earlier this year that it is closing coal units one and two at the Karn Generating Complex by 2023. Both sites are located within Hampton Township.

"Hampton Township has experienced and will continue to experience a reduction in tax revenue," Close said on Oct. 3, citing the plants' closures. "The Hampton Township Board has been working very hard to make sure that we are being fiscally responsible and that we are continuing to provide our township with the quality of services that our residents are accustomed to. We pride ourselves on having a safe community with fire and police protection, good roads, well maintained infrastructure, etc. We want to continue to provide all these services without compromise. We need to do it more efficiently."

Close previously told MLive the township is anticipating a total loss in its operating budget of $266,887 once the Weadock Plant is gone.

The township's tax revenue has been declining since 2011. The public safety millage brings the township $352,000 per year, but Close previously said she expects that to be reduced by $40,000 next year.

The total annual budget for the fire and police departments is just less than $1.9 million, Close has said.

"The board did not take this decision lightly," Close continued. "A Public Safety Committee was formed and a Town Hall Meeting was held to address concerns. The partial consolidation of our police and fire departments would continue to provide the quality of service that our community is accustomed to."

Currently, the police department is made up of nine officers, including the chief. The fire department is made up of eight firefighters. Fire Chief Randy VanDenBoom recently retired and his position has not been filled.

MLive was unable to reach Police Chief Bryan Benchley for comment. Fire department staff referred calls seeking comment to Close.

"We currently have three full-time police officers that are firefighter trained," Close said. "By implementing a public safety model, these officers can be a resource for our fire department when needed. Two more police officers have agreed to begin firefighter training and two officers have opted not to be fire trained.

"There will be challenges," Close continued. "But we will work diligently to provide our community public safety while being financially responsible."

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