KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County and the city of Portage could be going halfsies on a new emergency manager specialist and some new facilities will be going into Portage to make sure the county is ready the next time disaster strikes.
The Portage City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. to discuss accepting a half-time emergency manager’s position.
County Administrator Kevin Catlin says this year’s county budget calls for funding the other half as an assistant to the County’s Emergency Manager, Brandi James.
It includes the purchase of property in Portage to build a back-up 9-1-1 dispatch center and other facilities.
“The county’s office of Emergency Management would also locate to that facility creating a central hub for coordination and enhancing collaboration across agencies,” says Catlin.
The agreement calls for the new person to spend half their time on city planning and the other half on county preparedness.
Portage City Assistant Manager Adam Herringa says the damage caused by last year’s tornado, and new threats brought on by climate change “demonstrated the need for ongoing emergency management, disaster planning, and preparedness.”
He says they looked for a part time emergency manager on their own but couldn’t find one.
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