(616) 374-4237 (ext.11)
3862 Laurel Drive

New Fire Station Information Initiative

Planning for a Safer Future for Odessa Township

Odessa Township is taking an important step toward strengthening public safety and supporting the firefighters who serve our community every day. Our current fire station has served us for decades, but it no longer meets the needs of a modern fire service or the growing demands of our township.
This page is dedicated to sharing the story behind the project, documenting the conditions our firefighters work in today, and keeping residents informed as we move toward building a new, safer, and more efficient fire station.
As the project progresses, we will continue to add updates, photos, and information to help everyone understand why this investment matters and how it will benefit Odessa Township for generations to come.
In evaluating every possible option, it has become clear that repairing or expanding the current fire station is no longer practical or cost‑effective. The building requires extensive maintenance just to remain operational, and even with significant investment it would still fall short of modern safety standards and current fire service codes. The existing lot cannot support meaningful expansion, leaving us with a facility that is too small for today’s equipment, too outdated for required training and safety needs, and unable to meet the demands of a growing community. After careful study, it is evident that continued repairs would only delay the inevitable while consuming funds better invested in a station built for the future.
Recognizing these limitations, the Township Board has turned its focus toward planning a modern fire station designed to serve Odessa Township for many decades to come. Our goal is to create a facility that meets current safety codes, supports the operational needs of our firefighters, accommodates today’s larger apparatus, and provides room for future growth as our community continues to evolve. This new station will not only improve emergency response capabilities but also strengthen the long‑term resilience and safety of the residents we serve.

Site & Building Concept

Below is the Odessa Township Fire Department Site & Building Concept Document
OTFD Site & Building Concept

FAQs

The township has 4,015 residents and growing, and covers 36.1 square miles.

OTFD serves:

  • Odessa Township
  • Village of Lake Odessa
  • Mutual aid partners: Clarksville, Woodland, Sunfield, Berlin Orange
  • Plus surrounding other communities upon dispatch requests

Key employers include:

  • Cargill (300 employees) Cargill’s Lake Odessa facility has been an important part of Cargill’s Egg business since 1994 (formerly a part of Herbruck’s Farms, a facility built in the late 1980s). The facility is one of Cargill’s four egg processing facilities and processes more than a half-million pounds of liquid egg product each day.
  • Twin City Foods (130 employees) For over 60 years, Twin City Foods, Inc. has been committed to growing, harvesting, processing, freezing, packaging, and distributing the highest quality quick frozen vegetable products.
  • APEC (40 employees) Since 1992, APEC has been setting industry standards through specialized design and manufacturing of ingredient automation equipment and controls for weighing, dosing, mixing, continuous blending and coating. Our team of expert engineers provides comprehensive solutions for a variety of industries with diverse needs.
  • Caledonia Farmers Elevator (40 employees) Caledonia Farmers Elevator Company (CFE) is a progressive, producer-owned cooperative. CFE specializes in custom animal feed manufacturing, has full-service agronomy facilities providing seed recommendations, custom plant food and crop protection programs using GPS applications, grain handling facilities with specialized marketing programs and retail stores to reach the local communities.
  • Franklin Metals (25 employees) specializes in industrial scrap recycling services for businesses and tradesmen. We offer high quality and reliable services that consistently exceed customers’ expectations.

Funding comes primarily from a fire/ambulance millage, with limited general fund support. The FY 2026–2027 budget totals $293,500 in revenue.

Yes. The department actively applies for various federal, state and local grant funding and has received support from major employers and the Fire Department Association.

Per Ordinance 28 Ordinance Link , services include:

  • Fire suppression
  • Fire education
  • Fire prevention and code enforcement.
  • Basic EMS
  • Emergency rescue

The structure includes:

  • Fire Chief
  • Assistant Fire Chief
  • Fire Captain
  • Fire Lieutenants
  • On call Firefighters

The department includes:

  • 18 firefighters
  • Command staff (Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, Lieutenants)

Current certifications include:

  • 20 Firefighters
  • 20 Hazmat
  • 1 Paramedic
  • 15 Emergency Medical Responder
  • 3 Emergency Medical Technician

Examples include:

  • Hazmat Technician – FY 25–26
  • EMR training – FY 24–25
  • Fire Officer I & II – required for officers
  • Ice Water Technician
  • Aerial Rescue?
  • Firefighter I&II
  • Grain Bin Rescue

  • Public and Private Grain Silo Rescue
  • Farm Rescues
  • Close proximity to Railroad and unknown hazmat potential
  • Six (6) inland lakes water and ice rescue
  • Fairgrounds – events and rescues

The fleet includes:

  • DNR grass rigs (1977 Dodge, 1984 Chevy)
  • GMC Mini Pumper (2006)‑Pumper (2006)
  • Ford Tanker (1996)
  • HME Pumper (1995)
  • Ford F250 Rescue (2017)
  • Spencer Pumper (2022)

The station was built in 1978 and leased from the Village for $1 per year. The assessment shows significant issues including:

  • Cracked concrete floors.
  • Inadequate floor drainage
  • Failing overhead doors
  • No ventilation in apparatus bays
  • Insufficient lighting
  • HVAC deficiencies
  • Roof leaks
  • Asbestos concerns in the administration area and in the apparatus bays
  • Inadequate storage for firefighter personal protective equipment (turnout gear)
  • ADA noncompliance compliance

The OTFD is currently housed in a facility that is owned by the Village of Lake Odessa and leased to Odessa Township for $1 per year. The OTFD performed an initial assessment of the building and identified the above issues with the facility. According to the lease agreement, Odessa Township does not have the authority to perform or contract for building upgrades greater than $5,000 without the express approval of the Village of Lake Odessa. The OTFD assessment estimates at least $947,651 in renovation costs to bring the facility up to a minimum of standards for Fire Departments. The Village of Lake Odessa facility that houses the OTFD has a taxable value is $415,035 making renovation of this facility not a fiscally sound investment.

Since 2009, the township has contracted with Life EMS, which provides 24/7 Advanced Life Support.

Key priorities include:

  • SCBA (Self-contained Breathing Apparatus) replacement – $252,240
  • Turnout gear replacement
  • AED (Automated External Defibrillator) upgrades
  • Officer training (Fire Officer I & II)
  • Facility cost/benefit analysis

The township is actively involved with Williams Architects for facility design and development of a new fire station.  Also, the Township board is currently working with Bendzinski & Co to secure a bond