County attorney presents inflation-adjusted fee-in-lieu option for properties outside fire-district coverage

Elbert County Attorney Bart Gripp updated commissioners on a resolution that provides a fee-in-lieu option for properties lying outside established fire-district service areas.

Gripp described so-called "non-inclusion" zones'areas not taxed by any fire district but which still receive fire responses. The resolution provides a pathway for owners in those areas either to join the applicable fire district and pay the associated mills or, when building residential structures, to pay a one-time fee in lieu of inclusion.

Gripp said the only substantive change from the prior approval is an inflation adjustment to the fee level. "Really the only change between this and what was previously approved is the fee that was approved previously has been adjusted for what inflation has been over the last several years," he told the board. Gripp said, to date, no property owner has chosen to pay the fee; instead, affected owners have opted to join fire districts.

County Assessor Susan Murphy asked whether the fee is one-time or recurring; Gripp confirmed it is a one-time fee unless the property owner requests reimbursement due to a fire that consumes the entire fee amount, in which case the owner would be responsible for replenishing the fund.

No formal vote was taken on the update during the meeting; Gripp recommended approval of the inflation adjustment and commissioners did not record a formal action at that time.

Ending Staff presented the inflation-adjusted fee as a recommended update; commissioners did not take action during this meeting and may consider formal adoption at a later date.