Archive for Thursday, May 22, 2008
City considers false alarm fees
May 22, 2008
Advertisement
T, other city services in budget hot seat
The city's bus service may be the hot ticket item as city commissioners consider next year's budget. Enlarge video
Fees for fire trucks.
Lawrence city commissioners were presented with a list of ways the city could start raising more money from fire and medical operations to help pay for what the fire chief said is a serious need to replace aging fire engines.
Among the ideas: charging people and businesses for false fire alarms, and charging Kansas University and Haskell Indian Nations University for nonmedical emergency calls that the department makes to the campuses.
The false fire alarm fee appeared to have some traction with commissioners and staff members.
“I don’t have a problem charging fees for false alarms,” Mayor Mike Dever said. “I would just like to know how common it is.”
City Manager David Corliss said staff members would be studying the issue closely as the city puts together a 2009 budget, which is expected to be one of the tighter budgets in recent memory. Corliss said staff members likely would look at the false alarm concept for security alarms that the police department responds to.
Fire Chief Mark Bradford estimates that if the city charged $25 per false alarm, the city could collect about $18,000 per year. The city had about 700 false fire alarms in 2007.
The bigger revenue generator, though, would be to charge fees to KU and Haskell for some services. Bradford estimated that the city could collect about $185,000 if the universities were charged $500 for non-EMS related responses it made. In 2007, KU had 325 such calls and Haskell had 48.
But that idea may be a tough sell in City Hall.
“When we’ve looked at that in the past, it has always come back as something we’ve decided not to do,” Corliss said.
He said any analysis of the idea would have to measure what the university provides to the city for free or little cost. For example, the headquarters for the fire and medical department sits on property owned by Kansas University Endowment Association.
None of the fees proposals — which also included charging a small fee for the city’s bike helmet program — would generate enough money by themselves to pay for three new fire engines that Bradford said the department needs.
Current estimates are that the city needs to spend $2.1 million to replace two quint fire trucks and a technical rescue truck. The technical rescue truck has been retired because of a blown engine, and the two quints are becoming expensive to maintain, Bradford said.
“We’re spending more money on some of these vehicles than what the vehicles are worth,” Bradford said.
All four commissioners — Commissioner Sue Hack was absent — said they were interested in including the fire trucks in the 2009 budget, but a majority of commissioners also said they weren’t willing to raise taxes to do so.
Commissioners have until mid-August to complete the 2009 budget. Budget hearings continue at 2 p.m. today at City Hall.
Top ads RSS
- Road & Bridge Superintendent Jefferson County is seeking a Road ...
- Management Positions BA/BS Degree required. 30 days paid vacation, free ...
- Full-time and part- time Client Services positions available at Absorbent ...
- SCHOOL NURSE USD 458 BASEHOR/LINWOOD For application info. Call Lori ...
- Maintenance Team Members Needed for Nolan Real Estate Services. Experience ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Body found on train tracks July 5, 2008 · 54 comments
- Weblog: Ahhh, Kansas: What Are Your Favorite Things About It? July 4, 2008 · 43 comments
- Suspect in KU student's death commits suicide while in New Jersey police custody July 5, 2008 · 72 comments
- Time may alter perception of Bush presidency July 5, 2008 · 61 comments
- Caution July 5, 2008 · 14 comments
- Area bicyclists confused by deadly accident June 30, 2008 · 261 comments
- Big Dub returns July 5, 2008 · 11 comments
- How does God view the killing of animals? July 5, 2008 · 19 comments
- Chess contest hones kids’ skills February 17, 2008 · 2 comments
- Former GOP Sen. Helms dies at 86 July 5, 2008 · 26 comments
- Suspect in KU student's death commits suicide while in New Jersey police custody July 5, 2008
- Big Dub returns July 5, 2008
- Keyed in: Local pianist hopes institute takes talents to new levels July 5, 2008
- Body found on train tracks July 5, 2008
- Suspect sought in student’s slaying July 5, 2008
- Around and about July 5, 2008
- Mackey's life brimmed with friends, family July 5, 2008
- How does God view the killing of animals? July 5, 2008
- Beasley’s sternum cracked July 5, 2008
- Anatomy of an autopsy: Real forensic work nothing like TV shows July 23, 2006
22 May 2008 at 9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
b3 (Anonymous) says…
Not a good idea.
22 May 2008 at 11:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
$18,000 a year times 30 years to buy a fire truck. That's SMART!
22 May 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
compmd (Anonymous) says…
…or Lawrence could do what a lot of other small municipalities do, and buy used fire trucks. Why do people *insist* on buying things they cannot afford?
22 May 2008 at 4:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
Or put a new engine in the truck in question.
22 May 2008 at 5:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
been_there (Anonymous) says…
So what happens when someone doesn't turn in an alarm because they're not sure and don't want to get charged and it results in a loss of property or life? Isn't it better safe than sorry. Now if it's a prank, charge the hell out of them, but otherwise leave it be.
22 May 2008 at 5:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
been_there (Anonymous) says…
Who would they charge in the case of a passerby calling in a fire because maybe a BBQ smoker was putting out smoke and they thought there was a fire. Does the caller get charged or the guy with the smoker?
22 May 2008 at 5:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
chuckabee24 (Anonymous) says…
I can't wait until Lawrence tries to charge KU for false alarms. Can you say goodbye to your current headquarters? I wouldn't be surprised to see KU PD tell LPD that LPD needed to start patrolling the streets around campus, and KUPD would stick to only on campus. That'd add at least two or three more officers per shift. The real solution to fixing the false alarm issues at KU is to install fire alarms that spray a substance on your hand that only the fire department or hospital can remove. That way if it was a false alarm the person gets caught, and if it was a legit alarm they can get a pat on the back.
22 May 2008 at 6:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
smitty (Anonymous) says…
Here is a false alarm…My cats pulled the cords by playing with them and the police, fire, and EMT showed up at the door. So I rolled up the cords and tape then up so the cats couldn't get to them. So guess what, Key Management's incompetent resident manager of Vermont Towers shows up while I am not in my apartment to inspect and unrolls the cords so the damn cats can trip the call AGAIN.
I personally am held responsible for two calls due to cat curiosity if you ask even though this insane, antiquated system was forced on me. So who pays? HUD? Me? Key Management's resident manager, Vivian Nelson, for lacking common sense and courtesy?
22 May 2008 at 6:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
pace (Anonymous) says…
Some cities have a frequent call charge, if a disturbance occurs at one address resulting in a police call over 5 times a years, first a warning then the property owner is charged $500. to $5,000.
I think it would tie some landlord to who they rent to, as well as some individuals who just like to raise hell.
22 May 2008 at 8:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
toe (Anonymous) says…
Charge the University massive amounts.