PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Portage city council has rejected a deal worked out between city and Kalamazoo County officials to share an emergency manager, saying they want that person focused on the city the next time a crisis strikes.
The idea was to share the costs of hiring a full-time person who would spend half their time getting Portage prepared for the next emergency, and the other half helping Kalamazoo County Emergency Manager Brandi James.
Councilmembers Nicole Miller and Terry Urban supported the proposal.
But the majority rejected it for various reasons, most for the reason stated by Mayor Patricia Randall that they don’t think it will work in the city’s interest.
The council will review their options in a couple of months at their annual retreat to decide if they want to hire a full-time emergency manager of their own.
Portage City Manager Patrick McGinnis revealed during the discussion that the city didn’t have an emergency manager on staff when the EF-2 tornado struck in May of 2024 because the previous one, who had also been working part time as a Fire Department Code Inspector had left the month before.
McGinnis says despite that, the city was sufficiently prepared to respond to the devastating storm.
He says they have been trying unsuccessfully since to find a part-time replacement.
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