IT COULD BE CONTROVERSIAL, SO THE BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL AGREED BY CONSENSUS YESTERDAY(MON) TO TALK MORE…AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION…ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO CHARGE RESIDENTS A “RESPONSE” FEE WHEN THEY CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF MATT TREXEL SAYS THERE ARE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES. FOR INSTANCE, SUCH A FEE MIGHT BE COVERED BY INSURANCE, BUT NOT ALWAYS. TREXEL CHECKED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL AGENTS.
THE CHIEF SAYS HIS RESEARCH TURNED UP VERY FEW IOWA (FIRE) DEPARTMENTS THAT CHARGE THE FEE. ONE LOCAL DEPARTMENT…FORT MADISON…TRIED IT…BUT AFTER JUST ONE CALL…TO A FORMER FIREMAN’S HOUSE…THEY RESCINDED THE POLICY. THE BURLINGTON COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS IT AGAIN AT THE JANUARY 13TH MEETING.
MEANWHILE, A NUMBER OF OTHER PROPOSED FEE HIKES…AVERAGING ABOUT FIVE PERCENT…WILL BE CONSIDERED NEXT MONDAY, BUT WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE “CONSENT” AGENDA…SO THEY TOO CAN BE DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY.
