FIRE SERVICE UNIFORM BILLING ORDINANCE

AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THE UNIFORM BILLING BY ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS SERVING CITIZENS OF SHELBY COUNTY, PROVIDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS VOTED TO BILL FOR SERVICES INCURRED DURING A RESPONSE TO FIRES, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS, OR OTHER EMERGENCY REQUIRING FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES.

Guidelines: 

This ordinance does not preclude a fire department from not billing for services. 

Responses involving  more than one department will be billed to the responsible party by the Fire Department in whose jurisdiction the emergency is located. The responsible department will bill according to its status of a billing or non billing department. The responsible department will collect the costs incurred from other departments providing mutual aid and submit them on behalf of all departments to the responsible party.

Each fire department is responsible for submitting statements to the person, or business responsible for, or on whose property the response is made.

Collection of accounts is the sole responsibility of the fire department in whose jurisdiction the emergency response originates.

Rates:

Initial rates will be set by a committee meeting of  the majority of Fire Chiefs of  the fire departments serving territory within Shelby County at a meeting of the Shelby County Emergency Services Association.

Rates may be changed periodically by the members of the Shelby County Emergency Services Association by a vote of the majority present at a meeting where the question has been previously placed on the agenda and proper notice given, according to the by-laws of the Shelby County Emergency Services  Association.

Charges will be incurred under the following categories:

1. Emergency response apparatus actually used in the response

2. Stand by status of support vehicles

3. Manpower needed, and actually used in the response

4. Specialized equipment or services, not locally available

Categories below will be billable only in the event of hazardous materials incidents or those involving more than 4 departments, or if the materials and supplies used are in excess of the normal amounts.

5. The uninsured portion  of equipment damaged, contaminated, or destroyed, at replacement cost

6. The replacement cost of  disposable supplies, including but not limited to fuel, water, foam, absorbent materials, or any other cost, incurred by the fire department in the response to the incident

7. Responder sustenance, including food, refreshment, lodging for prolonged incidents, or other human service needs incurred by the responding personnel

Calls for investigation of smoke, or where no services are provided are not billable.

Penalty for  Response During State Fire Marshall Ordered Burning Ban:

All fees established under this ordinance shall be doubled in the event of fire responses to intentional or controlled burns or other fires, other than accidental,  not pre-planned with the Fire Chief of the jurisdiction.

Penalty for Noncompliance:  Reserved

Hazardous Materials Specific Section:  Reserved

This ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval, and publication as provided by law.

Adopted and passed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shelby this 6^th  day of November, 2001.

SHELBY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

/s/ LAVON A. CHRISTENSEN
Chairman

/s/ GAYLE PETERSEN

/s/ RICHARD FERRY

ATTEST:              /s/ MARSHA  J. CARTER, SHELBY COUNTY AUDITOR