Green Oak Township - News Release

For Immediate Release April 1, 2009. Opportunity and necessity have joined forces in Green Oak Charter Township. At the April 1, 2009 regularly scheduled meeting of the Green Oak Charter Township Board, the Board accepted the recommendation of the Public Safety Facilities Committee to solicit bids for preliminary elevation and specification drawings for the future construction of a combined Emergency Services Complex. Mark St. Charles, township supervisor said, "The recently approved federal "stimulus" package has presented opportunity for the Township to possibly obtain significant grant assistance in this project, however, in order to take advantage of such funds, the Township must have "shovel ready" plans available to include in any eligible grant application package. We, therefore, need to move promptly and get our plans ready now." This Request For Proposal (RFP) will solicit bids for developing the preliminary design of a facility that will include Emergency 911 backup capability and the shared uses of both police and fire resources. Plans will also reflect the Township's desire for environmental stewardship as well as energy efficiency. Responses will be due by 3:00 on Friday, April 10, 2009. A tentative location for the proposed facility has been identified as land now owned by the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Park Authority west of the intersections of Silver Lake and Whitmore Lake and adjacent to US-23. The Board directed staff to expedite this bid solicitation process action in order to select a successful firm no later than April 15, 2009. Necessity is being driven by the deteriorating condition of the current Police facility and an assessment of existing fire station capabilities. Opportunity is the result of the potential for external funding, private grants and the Township's solid financial condition. The Police Department has struggled to function in a pole barn originally built almost fifty years ago as a garage. Even the public has expressed concern about the facility. At the Department's annual Open House event those attending have asked officers, "How can you work in such conditions?" Firefighters also face operational difficulties resulting from necessary cost reductions in the construction of existing facilities. Since then, temporary actions have been required to accommodate storage needs, twenty-four hour duty cycles, equipment upgrades and environmental concerns. The Public Safety Facilities Committee, made up of police, fire, members of the Township Board and the public, researched the existing conditions of Fire and Police facilities and developed a comprehensive list of functional requirements for the new building. This is the first step in seeking Federal, State and Grant funding to offset the community's investment. Time is critical if these opportunities are to be realized. Once "shovel ready" specifications are complete, application for funding can begin, land can be secured, and the Committee's work developing firm build specifications can continue.

Page last updated 04/05/09