PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — The Portage City Council could approve an agreement with Kalamazoo County government to share an emergency management staff position.

If passed, the employee sharing agreement would be a first of its kind for the city.

It’s a conversation that was further highlighted in the aftermath of last year’s tornado. The May 2024 tornado was rated as an EF-2 with estimated winds of 135 miles per hour. A part-time emergency management coordinator job was posted, but city staff said no "viable applications" came through.

Portage Chief Operating Officer Adam Herringa said there's a need for the expertise.

"Just the other day, there was a tornado in northern Michigan, and it's late September. You throw in our own lived experience with the tornado, not to mention severe weathe

See Full Page