PARCHMENT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After a year without a fire chief, the city of Parchment has voted to dissolve its fire department and partner with a neighboring town.
Parchment City Commissioners met on Monday night for their weekly meeting. At the top of the agenda: a plan to shut down their fire department and contract services from nearby Kalamazoo Township.
Parchment has operated a small crew comprised of 7 firefighters to tackle incidents in the community and provide emergency services to residents.
After Fire Chief Joseph Bonhomme retired last December, city leaders decided to contract additional service from the town next door due to the difficulty in finding a new chief.
Now they’re making it long-term. Parchment City Manager Nancy Stoddard says that their firefighters expressed enthusiasm about joining a larger department.
None of the crew will be laid off, and can reapply to join Kalamazoo Township’s department.
The new contract will cost Parchment nearly $67,000 annually for two years.
(copy written by Josh Scott)
