(A) The Metropolis Fire Department shall initiate mitigation rates for the delivery of emergency and non-emergency services by the Fire Department for personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of emergency and non-emergency incidents as listed below. The mitigation rates shall be based on actual costs of the services and that which is usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) as shown below; which may include any services, personnel, supplies, and equipment and with baselines established by addendum hereto.
(B) The mitigation rates listed below will increase by 2.0% annually or based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers) (CPI), as developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, whichever is greater. Rate adjustments will occur on the anniversary date of this section to keep the Fire Department’s cost recovery program in conformity with increasing operating expenses.
(C) A claim shall be filed against the responsible party(s) through their insurance carrier. In some circumstances, the responsible party(s) will be billed directly.
(D) In consideration of the real property taxes paid to support the City of Metropolis Fire Department and the Massac County Fire Protection District and of the mutual assistance agreements between the two Departments, residents of Massac County, Illinois shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. This exemption applies to residents of both incorporated and unincorporated territories within Massac County, Illinois.
(E) The City Council may make rules or regulations and from time to time may amend, revoke, or add rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this section, as they may deem necessary or expedient in respect to billing for these mitigation rates or the collection thereof.
(F) Mitigation rates based on per hour. The mitigation rates below are average “billing levels”, and are typical for the incident responses listed, however, when a claim is submitted, it will be itemized and based on the actual services provided.
(1) Motor vehicle incidents.
(a) 1. Level 1 - $487. Provide hazardous materials assessment and scene stabilization. This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to an accident/incident.
2. Level 2 - $554. Includes Level 1 services as well as clean up and material used (sorbents) for hazardous fluid clean up and disposal. We will bill at this level if the Fire Department has to clean up any gasoline or other automotive fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
3. Level 3 - car fire - $677. Provide scene safety, fire suppression, breathing air, rescue tools, hand tools, hose, tip use, foam, structure protection, and clean up gasoline or other automotive fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
(b) Add-on services.
1. Extrication - $1,461. Includes heavy rescue tools, ropes, airbags, cribbing, and the like. This charge will be added if the Fire Department has to free/remove anyone from the vehicle(s) using any equipment. We will not bill at this level if the patient is simply unconscious and Fire Department is able to open the door to access the patient. This level is to be billed only if equipment is deployed.
2. Creating a landing zone - $448. Includes air care (multi-engine company response, mutual aid, helicopter). We will bill at this level any time a helicopter landing zone is created and/or is utilized to transport the patient(s).
3. Itemized response. You have the option to bill each incident as an independent event with custom mitigation rates, for each incident using, itemized rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized per apparatus, per personnel, plus products and equipment used.
(c) Additional time on-scene.
1. Engine billed at $448 per hour.
2. Truck billed at $560 per hour.
3. Miscellaneous equipment billed at $336.
(d) Level 3 - advanced response. Includes Level 1 and Level 2 services as well as D.A.R.T. activation, donning breathing apparatus and detection equipment. Set up and removal of decon center, detection equipment, recovery and identification of material. Disposal and environment clean up. Includes above in addition to any disposal rates of material and contaminated equipment and material used at scene. Billed at $2,240 plus $56 per hour per rescue person, plus $112 per hour per HAZMAT team member.
(e) Level 4 - itemized response. You have the option to bill each incident as an independent event with custom mitigation rates for each incident using itemized rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized, per trained rescue person, plus rescue products used.
(f) Back country or special rescue -
itemized response. Each incident will be billed with custom mitigation rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized per apparatus per hour, per trained rescue person per hour, plus rescue products used. Minimum billed $448 for the first response vehicle plus $56 per rescue person. Additional rates of $448 per hour per response vehicle and $56 per hour per rescue person.
(g) Chief response. This includes the set-up of command, and providing direction of the incident. This could include operations, safety, and administration of the incident. Billed at $280 per hour.
(h) Miscellaneous/additional time on-scene. Engine billed at $448 per hour. Truck billed at $560 per hour. Miscellaneous equipment billed at $336.
(i) Mitigation rate notes.
1. The mitigation rates above are average “billing levels”, and are typical for the incident responses listed, however, when a claim is submitted, it will be itemized and based on the actual services provided.
2. These average mitigation rates were determined by itemizing costs for a typical run (from the time a fire apparatus leaves the station until it returns to the station) and are based on the actual costs, using amortized schedules for apparatus (including useful life, equipment, repairs, and maintenance) and labor rates (an average department’s “actual personnel expense” and not just a firefighter’s basic wage). The actual personnel expenses include costs such as wages, retirement, benefits, workers compensation, insurance, and the like.
(j) 1. Assignment - $448 per hour, per engine/$560 per hour, per truck. Includes:
A. Scene safety.
B. Investigation.
C. Fire/hazard control.
2. This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to an incident.
(2) Optional. A Fire Department has the option to bill each fire as an independent event with custom mitigation rates. Itemized, per person, at various pay levels and for itemized products use.
(3) Illegal fires. Assignment - $448 per hour, per engine I $560 per hour, per truck. When a fire is started by any person or persons that requires a Fire Department response during a time or season when fires are regulated or controlled by local or state rules, provisions or ordinances because of pollution or fire danger concerns, such person or persons will be liable for the Fire Department response at a cost not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by the Fire Department to respond and contain the fire. Similarly, if a fire is started where permits are required for such a fire and the permit was not obtained and the Fire Department is required to respond to contain the fire the responsible party will be liable for the response at a cost not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by the Fire Department. The actual expenses will include direct labor, equipment costs and any other costs that can be reasonably allocated to the cost of the response.
(4) Water incidents.
(a) Level 1 - basic response. Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command, scene safety and investigation (including possible patient contact, hazard control). This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to a water incident. Billed at $448 plus $56 per hour, per rescue person.
(b) Level 2 - intermediate response. Includes Level 1 services as well as clean up and material used (sorbents), minor hazardous clean upand disposal. We will bill at this level if the Fire Department has to clean up small amounts of gasoline or other fluids that are spilled as a result of the incident. Billed at $896 plus $56 per hour, per rescue person.
(Ord. 2021-15, passed 6-28-2021)