MONROE - The bill for the Monroe Fire Department to respond to fire calls in surrounding townships will be higher come Jan. 1.
The Monroe Fire Department will be charging 50 cents more an hour for each firefighter, and charging for each truck needed to respond to a fire rather than for each time they are called to an incident.
In addition, members of the Monroe Rural Fire District will be required to pay an annual fee of $12,500, which will be due by July 1 of each year.
The rate increases were passed unanimously by the City of Monroe Common Council Tuesday, in a resolution recommended by the Finance & Taxation Committee.
Engines will cost $100 per hour and the ladder truck will cost $500 per hour, while the command vehicle will cost $50 per hour. A minimum of one hour will be charged, with subsequent hours billed in 15-minute increments.
Previous fire responses were billed per incident, at $175 for the first hour and $125 for each hour thereafter, regardless of the extent of the fire and equipment needed.
Responding firefighters' hourly rates were also increased by 50 cents. Non-certified firefighters will receive $14.50, a firefighter 1 will now earn $15.50, and a firefighter 2 will make $17. A driver-operator will be paid $19.50 per hour, and a fire officer level has been added at $21 per hour.
Firefighters are paid for a minimum of one hour and in 15-minute increments thereafter.
Property owners where a fire occurs are usually billed by the townships for the fire department's response.
Inspection fee rates for townships have also changed.
All fire prevention inspections, and re-inspections if needed, will now coast $14. About 200 inspections are completed each year.
Inspection rates had varied according to facility type, and ranged from $7 for daycare centers and apartments to $20 for industrial complexes.
In a letter to the city, Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch stated, "The 2010 rate is still significantly less than the state pays the township to have prevention service performed."
The Monroe Fire Department will be charging 50 cents more an hour for each firefighter, and charging for each truck needed to respond to a fire rather than for each time they are called to an incident.
In addition, members of the Monroe Rural Fire District will be required to pay an annual fee of $12,500, which will be due by July 1 of each year.
The rate increases were passed unanimously by the City of Monroe Common Council Tuesday, in a resolution recommended by the Finance & Taxation Committee.
Engines will cost $100 per hour and the ladder truck will cost $500 per hour, while the command vehicle will cost $50 per hour. A minimum of one hour will be charged, with subsequent hours billed in 15-minute increments.
Previous fire responses were billed per incident, at $175 for the first hour and $125 for each hour thereafter, regardless of the extent of the fire and equipment needed.
Responding firefighters' hourly rates were also increased by 50 cents. Non-certified firefighters will receive $14.50, a firefighter 1 will now earn $15.50, and a firefighter 2 will make $17. A driver-operator will be paid $19.50 per hour, and a fire officer level has been added at $21 per hour.
Firefighters are paid for a minimum of one hour and in 15-minute increments thereafter.
Property owners where a fire occurs are usually billed by the townships for the fire department's response.
Inspection fee rates for townships have also changed.
All fire prevention inspections, and re-inspections if needed, will now coast $14. About 200 inspections are completed each year.
Inspection rates had varied according to facility type, and ranged from $7 for daycare centers and apartments to $20 for industrial complexes.
In a letter to the city, Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch stated, "The 2010 rate is still significantly less than the state pays the township to have prevention service performed."