Sheridan Fire Department seeking $260k for equipment upgrades

Sheridan Community Fire Department in Montcalm County is seeking $260,000 for new fire equipment and facility improvements.

Brandon Stowell, chief of the department, says the authority has been working with outdated gear, including two trucks he says may not have the water capacity to put out some larger blazes.

Stowell says the department receives help from other nearby fire services, which can lead to a lack of coverage in those areas.

“We rely heavily on our mutual aid departments, which do help, but it puts a strain on everybody when we have to call in five departments to help us — that leaves a lot of areas exposed,” he said.

If approved, the funding would go towards a new truck with a larger water tank, new hoses and an extension to the fire hall to house the new equipment.

“It allows our department to be able to replace worn and expired equipment, gear and hose and those types of things that we can’t afford to do on our current budget, because we spend it all on maintenance and just maintaining what we have,” Stowell said.

Stowell says that with dedicated funding for fire equipment, local townships will be able to use more of their budget for road maintenance or other projects.

The proposal would levy three quarters of a mill for four years, which would cost $75 a year for houses with a taxable value of $100,000.

If passed, the proposal would replace existing fire millages in Sidney and Evergreen Townships, keeping rates in those areas even or increasing by a quarter of a mill.