Former LaPaz Fire Chief, Chris Oginsky gave a presentation to the Bourbon Town Council on the idea of recouping some of their expense costs during Tuesday’s meeting.
Oginsky said the LaPaz Fire Department started working with a company in 2010 and sends invoices for services rendered to the insurance companies of victims of car accidents, house fires and hazardous material accidents.
The former fire chief said funding for department seem to get getting smaller and smaller and as a way to bring some money back to the department many of the departments in the area are now sending out bills. Oginsky explained by saying, “It’s easy to generate a bill and they are only sent to insurance companies.” He continued, “State statue sets the guidelines on the amounts that can be charged.”
Most insurance companies have a rider on the policy that allows for a payment for services to the emergency departments responding. Oginsky said his department receives between $10,000 and $15,000 annually. He indicated that most of their calls are from people traveling on US 31 and or US 6 and not residents who pay taxes.
Although interested, Bourbon Town Council members were a bit hesitant and noted, our tax payers are already paying taxes for the services whether they use them or not. There were concerned that their residents would feel like there were double billed.
The Bourbon Town Council tabled any action for further review by the town attorney.
