The city’s Fire and Police departments are visiting Neighborhood Planning Councils and have scheduled station tours and community conversations to collect public input on the future of their facilities.
Early this year, consultants performed a study of the Fire Department’s seven stations covering the city. The full study is available online – visit www.battlecreekmi.gov and navigate to City Government, Departments, Fire Department, 2015 Fire Station Study.
As a result of the study and other considerations, the Fire Department is considering three different options for consolidating and relocating some of the seven current fire stations in a way that makes operations more efficient and maintains or improves the goal of a four-minute response time across the city.
The Police Department’s station, built in the early 1970s, also has been analyzed. Age and lack of space contribute to issues that have resulted in the goal of a new building, planned for the current department parking lot, across Patterson Way from the current location.
The department also is open to other options that might save money or best meet its needs of additional space, security
The respective chiefs and other city officials want to hear from residents about the types of facilities they want in their community, hopes they have based on proposed changes, and concerns and suggestions as the processes move forward. Fire Chief David Schmaltz and Police Chief Jim Blocker are attending NPC meetings to introduce the issue to the neighborhoods.
Residents will have the chance to tour the current fire and police facilities during the dates and times below. The Police Department is at 20 N. Division St.
All fire stations, with the exception of the airport, will be open for tours. They are: Station 1, 195 E. Michigan Ave.; Station 2, 145 N. Washington Ave.; Station 3, 222 Cliff St.; Station 4, 8 S. 20th St.; Station 5, 1170 W. Michigan Ave.; and Station 6, 2401 Capital Ave. SW.
Virtual tours of at least some of these facilities will be available online in the near future and will be announced at that time.
Planned touring times are:
4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22
9 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
12 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
9 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
City partners Beacon Community and Project 20/20 also will host community conversations to collect input on future fire and police facilities. Community gained from the conversations and other sources will be used by fire, police and other city officials to help inform decisions related to the future of fire and police facilities.
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 Lakeview Middle School library, 300 S. 28th St.
10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 14 Battle Creek Department of Public Works, 150 S. Kendall St.
6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 Community Action, 110 Green St.
9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Kool Family Community Center, 200 W. Michigan Ave.
Information related to this process will be linked from the city’s website home page, under “Current topics.” An online survey will be made available at the beginning of November for those who don’t attend the community conversations in person.
Other ways to participate in this process:
Email your comments to PublicInput@battlecreekmi.gov.
Call the City Manager’s Office with your comments: (269) 966-3378