A. Establishment; direction. There is hereby established the "Purcell Rural Fire Service," to be operated by the City Fire Department and be under the direction of the City Council and City Manager.
B. Operation for rural residents. The rural fire service shall be operated primarily for the purpose of providing fire protection to rural residents living outside of the corporate limits of the City, but within the area encompassed generally by the City mailing route or any other area recommended by the rural fire advisory board and approved by the City Council.
C. Annual membership fee. This service is provided upon the annual payment of a membership fee, as set by the City Council, by each home or property owner or resident. Payment of an annual membership fee by each home or property owner or resident will provide a fire truck and equipment for a rural fire service, purchased from the rural fire service membership fee and independent of the City fire equipment.
D. Costs for nonpaying members. The costs of fire calls to rural residents who are nonpaying members of the rural fire service shall be the same as the costs established in Section 38-112.
E. Membership fee due date. Payment of the membership fee is due on or before July 1 of each year.
F. Payment of claims and financial transactions. Payment of claims and other financial transactions involving the use of funds derived from the rural fire service shall be made and processed in accordance with the requirements of State statutes, City ordinances and accepted City procedures.
G. Responsibility for damages by Fire Department. In the performance of fire prevention or protection services outside the corporate limits of the City, the City Fire Department shall not assume responsibility for damages to structures incurred prior to the arrival of the department nor shall the department assume responsibility for damages to structures incurred as a result of late notification of the members of the department.
H. Collection of unpaid fees. Unpaid fees, charges, or annual memberships may be subject to collection by the City in any manner normally employed by the City, including the use of small claims procedures in the district court.
I. Expense to members. The expense to a rural fire member for a fire call shall be directed to the member's insurer based on the same rate as established in Section 38-112.
(Code 1991, § 13-230; Ord. No. 99-37, § 3, 12-6-1999)