Walker Millage Would Fix Basement Fire Station 3
Walker voters face a millage to fund fire department upgrades, starting with a Station 3 built for a fraction of what it does now.
Walker is asking voters to approve a millage funding fire department improvements. The biggest need is Fire Station 3, which was never designed for 24/7 operations. Firefighters there sleep and work out in the basement and walk upstairs through a senior center to reach their gear when calls come in.
Walker Fire Station 3 was built for a quieter era, and it shows. The department runs a 24/7 operation out of a facility that was never designed for one — firefighters sleep and work out in the basement, and when a call comes in, they walk upstairs through a senior center to reach their equipment. Now the city is asking voters to approve a millage that would fund fire department improvements, with a facility fix for Station 3 at the top of the list.
The proposal heads to the ballot as Walker leaders argue the status quo isn't sustainable. Station 3's layout slows down response at the exact moment seconds matter, and the arrangement of sharing space with a senior center creates daily friction for both firefighters and the people using the building. The millage would also fund additional fire department items beyond the station work — the full scope and cost per household should be in the ballot language voters receive.
Advertisement
Walker sits right against Grand Rapids and shares response areas, services, and a housing market with the rest of the metro. How its neighbors vote on this one is a useful read on how west-side communities are willing to pay for the basics. If you live in Walker, check your ballot language for the exact millage rate before you vote.
