Springdale approves mitigation fees for fire responses and authorizes billing contract

Springdale City Council voted on Oct. 1 to establish a mitigation‑fee program for responses by the Springdale Fire Department and to authorize a third‑party billing contract.

Mister Jacobs read Ordinance 40‑20‑25, which directs the city to charge mitigation fees for personnel, supplies and equipment deployed to emergency and non‑emergency incidents. The ordinance states fees "shall be based on actual costs" and allows the mayor and city administrator to adjust rates annually using the Consumer Price Index. It also directs the city to file claims with responsible parties'insurance carriers and, in certain circumstances, bill responsible parties directly.

The council then read Ordinance 41‑20‑25, authorizing the mayor and city administrator to enter into an agreement with Fire Recovery USA LLC for billing services related to the newly established mitigation fees. The ordinance incorporates the vendor agreement by reference as Exhibit A and likewise contains an emergency clause.

Both ordinances were moved, seconded and approved by roll call, each receiving seven affirmative votes. The presiding officer announced that Ordinance 40‑20‑25 "passes with 7 affirmative votes," and the clerk recorded the same outcome for Ordinance 41‑20‑25.

City staff told council the mitigation fees are intended to help offset rising operational demands and training costs tied to increased incident volume and federal/state requirements. The text of the ordinances specifies that adjustments to the fee schedule may be made by the mayor and city administrator "to keep the city's cost recovery program in conformity with increasing operation expenses." The ordinance also references compliance with open‑meeting laws (Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code) in its finding clauses.

Council did not debate specific fee amounts during the meeting; the ordinances incorporate an exhibit (the fee schedule and the vendor agreement) that staff said is attached to the legislation and available in the packet. As adopted with emergency declarations, the city indicated it intends to implement the program and begin collection as soon as legally permitted.

What happens next: the city administrator and mayor will finalize implementation steps and the contract with Fire Recovery USA LLC; staff indicated the mitigation fee exhibit and billing agreement are part of the adopted records and will guide the program's roll‑out.