The City of Warren is weighing the possibility of implementing fees for non-emergency EMS runs and fire department services used by local senior living facilities and for utility-related incidents, in what appears to be an effort to address cost-shifting practices and improve resource allocation. The proposed ordinance comes in response to growing concerns regarding the use of city services by private entities, particularly in scenarios that are deemed non-urgent.
"We have long been facing the challenge of privately run nursing home facilities long-term care facilities that are using the city, and city resources that are taxpayer-funded for their private interests," Councilmember Jonathan Lafferty told FOX 2 Detroit. How EMS vehicles, waiting in line for private businesses that are using city services at minimal costs, has become a growing issue for the Warren residents who need emergency care.
Warren City Council Secretary Mindy Moore explained that the ordinance will also include fees for utility providers when the city's fire department addresses issues such as downed power lines or gas leaks. During a recent council meeting, members voted 6-1 in favor of directing the council's attorney, Jeff Schroder, to draft the ordinance. The aim is to present the proposed language by their March 12 meeting.
"It seems that the owners are looking at ways of cutting costs, and they see, ‘Oh well, the city can come here, and it’s free,'" Lafferty mentioned in The Detroit News. Anticipating financial implications, the Warren Fire Department is expected to advise on how much should be charged for these services, which includes when the call to lift residents by the fire department at senior living facilities – known as lift assists.
According to the Macomb Daily, neighboring city Sterling Heights recently adopted a similar measure, imposing a $500 fee for non-emergency transports and $800 for lift assists. Councilman Gary Boike, who voted against the move in Warren, argued that the $500 fee might not be sufficient to discourage the overreliance on municipal services by businesses and suggested the fire department's input in setting appropriate charges. "We just want to make sure these businesses are paying their fair share," Lafferty added.
While the exact fees are yet to be determined, the prevailing sentiment among Warren city council members is the necessity of ensuring that taxpayer-funded resources are not unjustly exploited by private interests, ensuring availability and priority remain with residents in instances of legitimate emergencies.
