Posted: 1/16/08
Rush City enacts fire charge
 At the public hearing Monday night, Rush City Fire Chief Bob Carlson explained what the $500 charge would cover, and noted that the funds would be earmarked solely for the fire equipment fund. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
The Rush City Council held a public hearing on Monday night, in advance of passing an ordinance establishing a minimum $500 fire charge for residents living in Rush City's fire coverage area. The charge, approved by the council, will affect residents living in Rush City, all of Rushseba Township and Rock Creek, as well as those portions of Nessel, Fish Lake, and Royalton townships that contract with the Rush City Fire Department.
According to Fire Chief Bob Carlson, a "typical" fire call would be charged the minimum $500 fee. That figure would increase only if the department was on scene an extended period of time, which Carlson defined as "days or weeks," and/or if the department requires special equipment to battle the fire, such as backhoes, foam, etc.
False alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) monitor runs would not be subject to the charge, nor would mutual aid responses by the department. During the public hearing, Carlson emphasized that no false alarms or CO calls would be charged, as he was concerned residents would be hesitant to call the fire department to avoid the charge.
All funds generated by the fee will by placed in the department's fire equipment fund and, as Carlson noted, would be used to help the department better serve residents. Carlson also noted on Tuesday that most fire departments in Chisago County have a similar ordinance.
Fish Lake Township Chairperson Bob Carter attended a portion of the public hearing, and expressed concern about possible charges for fires on a vacant lot. Carlson responded that fires on vacant lots would be charged to the ultimate property owner.
Charging for fire calls is not something new for the city. According to Mayor Jim Ertz, a similar ordinance was in place until about four years ago. He called the recent lack of such an ordinance a "deficiency" of the city.
In other news:
• Bids to create a Web site for the city were reviewed, but no decision was made. Ertz suggested that, before the city agree to pay someone to create a site, the school and the Chamber of Commerce should be contacted about the possibility of combining Web sites.
• Three local businesses failed a tobacco compliance check according to a letter from Chisago County Investigator Russ Frank. the Eagles Club and the Rush City Clark gas station failed compliance for the first time, and Central Rivers' Co-op failed in 2006 as well. The city elected to fine both Eagles and Clark $125 for the first offense. If Central Rivers two failed compliance checks occurred within 12 months, accounted for in city ordinance, they will receive a fine of $250, but that had yet to be determined by the city.
• Requests for proposals (RFP) for city attorney, engineering, and fiscal advisor services were not acted upon. Instead, a committee was formed to study the RFPs over the next two weeks. A decision is expected at the next city council meeting, scheduled for Jan. 28.
The city did choose Althoff and Nordquist, the single RFP received for accounting services. As well, the city made no council or official designation changes from 2007 to 2008.
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