City will charge for some services

Out-of-towners are about to get charged for being using emergency services provided by the Willows Fire Department.

City Council approved an ordinance at this week's meeting to charge a fee when fire department services and equipment are used at accident scenes, hazardous waste spills, pipeline, power line and water incidents, fires and fire investigations.

The main proviso is only people who do not live in the city or the Willows Rural Fire District will be charged.

"Ultimately, it's a great idea because local taxpayers no longer have too pay for out-of-towners." Fire Chief Wayne Peabody said Friday. He first introduced the idea to the City Council in May.

Most of the time, the fee will be billed to insurance companies as "an add-on cost" for claims of injury, damage to vehicles and property, the ordinance states.

The city had the legal right to collect similar fees, but did not, because it did not have an easy mechanism.

Now, the city will contract with Fire Recovery USA, a Roseville-based billing consultant. The firm will keep 20 percent of all recovered funds, so no general fund money will be spent.

"The adopted ordinance doesn't actually change that much, but only provides the city with a better mechanism to collect those payments," City Manager Steve Holsinger said Friday.

Holsinger said, "the city will recover $5,000 to $10,000 annually."

Fees will range from $275 per hour for the fire investigation team to $400 per hour per engine and $500 per hour per truck.

Flat rates will be charged for other incidents depending on their level of severity and requirements. At the low end, a Level 1 motor vehicle accident that requires "hazardous materials assessment and scene stabilization" will cost $435.

At the high end, $5,900 will be billed an advanced HAZMAT response. The fee includes three hours of on-scene time, with an additional $300 for each additional hour per HAZMAT team.

The ordinance was passed as a consent item, with Councilman Peter Towne absent.

Staff reporter Rob Parsons contributed to this story.