Comstock Township’s board took up three public safety funding questions at its July 20 meeting, covering police, fire, and sheriff services.
Law enforcement millage heads to November ballot
The board adopted Resolution #2026-11, sending renewal language for the township’s law enforcement millage to the November 3 general election ballot. The millage isn’t new or increased, it renews the township’s existing levy, capped at .992 mills after a required state rollback from its original 1 mill rate, for four more years, 2026 through 2029. The renewal is expected to raise an estimated $813,904 in its first year, with funds going toward law enforcement services and a possible portion passed through to Kalamazoo County or other local units. Voters will decide the question this fall.
Fire Station 9-3 construction bid awarded to CSM Group
The board approved a construction bid from CSM Group for the township’s new Fire Station 9-3, with an approved cost of up to $11,146,057. The figure includes two bid alternatives, a $60,000 lightning protection system and $63,000 for glazed masonry finishes, plus a same-day correction after CSM Group’s bid was found to be missing an alternate other bidders had built into their base prices.
CSM Group wasn’t the lowest of the six bids submitted. The township used a weighted scoring system that combined price with qualifications, past project experience, and reference checks, producing an “adjusted price” for each bidder. CSM Group’s adjusted price came out lowest under that method, which township officials said better reflects overall value than bid price alone. The board separately approved a $111,760 Phase 3 architectural services agreement with project architect JPR to oversee construction.
Sheriff contract still under review
The board reviewed, but did not vote on, a proposed three-year police protection agreement with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office covering January 2027 through December 2029. The draft contract would provide the equivalent of four full-time uniformed deputies to the township under a “true cost of services” compensation model, with an option to extend up to two additional years by mutual agreement. Board members asked staff to clarify contract terms and funding numbers, including how the agreement interacts with the law enforcement millage above, before further discussion at a future meeting.
