KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The city of Kalamazoo will finally be adding a Mobile Command Center to its public safety fleet, and it won’t cost them a dime.
The city commission will be asked tonight to accept a rolling communications center decked out with all the bells and whistles to handle emergency situations from the federal government.
The dual axel trailer was last used in the northwest United States by the Energy Office of Radiological Security.
Kalamazoo Public Safety will use it during weather emergencies, SWAT and bomb squad operations, hostage negotiations, and crowd management.
The trailer can even be deployed as a mobile classroom.
There was a proposal to purchase a brand-new command vehicle included in the 2022 city budget for $550,000, but it was dropped after questions about the cost came up.
This four-year-old, 18-foot trailer is valued at $86,000, and includes emergency flood lighting, full internet and communications interoperability, computer workstations, its own generator, a power awning and climate control.
Commissioners will also be asked to accept an $80,000 grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation and $30,000 from the Downtown Economic Growth Authority to fund holiday events and programming later this year.
The city and the Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center will also be providing support.
It costs serious money for the parade, Santa’s workshop, the tree lighting ceremony, the Holly Jolly Trolly and all the decorations.
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