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Macomb Township adopts cost-recovery ordinance for nonemergency responses to some residential care facilities
Summary
The Board of Trustees adopted an ordinance adding Article 7 to Chapter 6 of the township code to recover costs when fire department responses to nonemergency incidents at certain for‑profit residential care facilities are determined to be misuse of 9‑1‑1 resources. The board voted unanimously.
Macomb Township trustees on March 26 adopted an ordinance that lets the township recover costs when emergency responders are called for nonemergency incidents at certain for‑profit congregate residential care facilities.
The ordinance, added as Article 7 to Chapter 6 of the Macomb Township Code of Ordinances, formalizes a methodology for calculating a cost recovery fee. Township staff said the fire department will work with the township chief financial officer to set the fee schedule and then return to the board for approval of specific amounts.
Deputy Chief Adam told the board the measure is intended to curb misuse of the township’s emergency resources so highly trained personnel remain available for true emergencies. “We do not want anyone to ever hesitate from calling 911 if they have an emergency,” he said, but the ordinance is aimed at “for‑profit businesses who are using our 911 services … as an extension of their staff.”
Board members asked how often the department is dispatched to these facilities for events such as “lift assists.” Staff said records management can produce a facility‑level count and that the new policy itself may reduce repeated calls. Deputy Chief Adam said some responses that start as a lift assist later are determined to be medical emergencies and would remain uncompensated emergency responses.
Trustee Pappell moved to adopt the ordinance; Treasurer Gillette seconded. The board approved the ordinance by a unanimous roll call.
The ordinance includes a process to notify for‑profit facilities of the new fee schedule once the board approves specific amounts. Township staff said the provision is not intended to bill individual residents who call for legitimate emergency help.
