(A) Parties requesting and receiving fire services may be billed directly by the city. Additionally, if the party receiving fire services did not request services but a fire or other situation exists which, at the discretion of the Fire Department personnel in charge requires fire service, the party will be charged and billed. All parties will be billed whether or not the fire service is covered by insurance. Any billable amount of the fire charge not covered by a party’s insurance remains a debt of the party receiving the fire service.
(B) Parties billed for fire service will have 30 days to pay. If the fire service charge is not paid by that time, it will be considered delinquent and the city will send a notice of delinquency.
(C) If the fire service charge remains unpaid for 30 days after this notice of delinquency is sent, the city will use all practical and reasonable legal means to collect the fire service charge. The party receiving fire service shall be liable for all collection costs incurred by the city including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.
(D) If the fire service charge remains unpaid for 30 days after notice of delinquency is sent, the City Council may also, on or before October 15 of each year, certify the unpaid fire service charge to the County Auditor for collection with property taxes. The city must give the property owner notice of its intent to certify the unpaid fire service charge by September 15.
(E) The City Council shall retain the authority to waive billing in the event of false alarms; provided, however, that it need not do so. Each matter shall be considered on a case by case basis and the waiver of a bill in one case shall not be deemed a precedent so as to require waiver in any other cases.
(Ord. 129, passed 12-19-2005)