Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority to move to old Ford dealership

by Hope Salyer

The Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority purchased the former Ford Dealership in Stockbridge after the SAESA board approved the purchase. According to SAESA General Manager John Beck, the sale of the property north of the intersection of Mich. 106 and Mich. 52 was finalized on March 8 following multiple rounds of negotiation.

Beck declined to answer the sale price of the deal.

According to Beck, SAESA decided to buy the dealership for several reasons, including a lack of space in the Township Hall building to accommodate SAESA’s growing equipment needs. “We knew the fire and ambulance stations were getting too small for our equipment,” Beck said. “We’d been trying to pack everything in the buildings, so we decided to start looking because we were outgrowing the buildings.”

Beck said maintaining two separate locations was also a factor. “The fire department is in a residential area, which is never good, and with fire and ambulance at two separate locations we have to maintain two different buildings, pay utilities for two different buildings, and it is hard to manage two separate locations.”

Minimal renovations will be required to move the SAESA departments into the new building.

According to Beck the goal is to move into the new station before July 1, and a general contractor will be managing all reconstruction. Beck said he expects the renovations to be minimal, mostly sprucing up and getting floor epoxy work done, but he doesn’t expect any major renovations to be needed.

Beck said the current fire and ambulance stations are being leased from the Village of Stockbridge, so it is unknown what the Village will do with the space once SAESA moves to the new station.

While SAESA departments are gearing up for the move, there are offices currently being leased in the old Ford dealership building. According to Beck, SAESA plans to work with those leasing offices, including the Animal Blood Bank, to allow them to stay in those offices as long as they need.

“I think this is a great thing for all parties involved,” Beck said. “A lot of time and research went into facilitating fire and ambulance. Cost is always a factor, and the SAESA board didn’t want to have to ask for an additional millage or bond, so they really did their due-diligence in this decision. It’s a great location for us, so we are hoping to get our guys and gals into the building quickly.”

For more information, check the SAESA website, www.saesa.org, or contact Beck at jbeck@saesa.org.