In the unfortunate event that disaster strikes the campus, students and staff at Southwestern Michigan College will continue to receive the support of the City of Dowagiac’s first responders.

The Dowagiac City Council ratified the passage of a contract between the city and college for continued fire service during their meeting Monday evening. The terms of the contract state the city will continue to dispatch fire department personnel to the college in case of fire or similar emergency for the next three years, beginning on April 1. The college will be charged $13,500 for the services, which will be payable by April 25 of each contract year.

The agreement between the two entities arose due to the upcoming expiration of the fire services contract between the city and LaGrange Township, where the college is located. Though the college will be also be covered by volunteer departments used within the township, the city’s fire station, located on Wolf Street, provides an ideal location for quick response for emergency services, said City Manager Kevin Anderson.

“We should be able to be there more promptly given that we’re closest to the school, and we have personnel on duty 24 hours a day so we can get the trucks rolling right away,” Anderson said.

The Dowagiac Fire Department has provided dispatch to a portion of LaGrange township for years, but the LaGrange board of trustees voted unanimously to not renew their contract with the city during a meeting on Feb. 17, due to the expense of covering the costs between the mills it charges residents and those charged by the city for coverage, according to township Clerk Amy Juroff. Effective April 1, LaGrange residents currently living in areas covered by the Dowagiac department will be covered by both Wayne Township and Central Cass Interlocal fire departments.

In addition to providing continued service, the Dowagiac Fire Department will continue to train SMC staff and students in fire prevention and safety, as has been done in the past. The college board of trustees approved the deal during its meeting earlier this month, on March 16.

Though the agreement won’t begin until April, the city, township and various fire departments have all been hard at work to make the transition as seamless as possible.

“[Students and staff] won’t be able to tell any difference at all,” Anderson said. “That’s the goal of the agreement, to provide them with the same level of coverage they have already been receiving.”

Other business conducted by city council Monday included:

• Renewal of a fire agreement between the city and Pokagon Township, to provide service to a portion of the township.

• Purchase of a new police vehicle from C. Wimberley Automotive Group for $20,925.

• Approval of a contract for community funding to Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services, in the amount of $1,446.50.

• Award of a contract to Republic Services, based out of Kalamazoo, for services during the annual Spring Clean-up Week, estimated to cost $11,023.

• Payment of bills and payroll, in the amount of $736,364.49.