Cascade council authorizes fire-response invoice to Green Truck Line, adopts ordinances and approves library hire

Cascade, Iowa — At its May 11 meeting the Cascade City Council approved a measure authorizing the Cascade Fire Department to issue an invoice to Green Truck Line Incorporated for costs associated with a recent commercial fire response, and adopted two ordinances on final reading amending emergency medical services and sewer-connection rules. The council also approved hiring a part-time summer library employee.

Council discussion on the fire-billing item centered on an existing gap in the municipal code: staff said the city currently has no explicit ordinance authorizing charges for fire responses even when insurers request invoices. A memo included with the agenda recounted that an insurance agent asked the city for an invoice for the Green Truck Line incident and that the proposed resolution formalizes the practice of issuing an invoice in such cases. "The city attorney said we should draft an invoice and then have city council approve and authorize that we send this invoice," a staff member said during the discussion.

Councilmembers and staff said they would follow with code amendments to give the fire chief discretion to charge for certain incidents going forward, particularly where replenishment of hazmat materials or substantial equipment use is required. Staff indicated billing would depend on the type and scale of the fire and that the proposed invoice was initiated at the request of an insurer.

The council adopted Ordinance 2-26, amending Title 3, Chapter 14 (Emergency Medical Services), and Ordinance 1-26, amending Chapter 6-2 (sanitary sewer and building-sewer connections), both on third and final reading, with roll-call votes. No council members raised questions during the readings. The council also approved Resolution 31-26 to hire a summer part-time library employee, with staff saying the position could continue into the fall depending on library needs.

Motions on the fire invoice and related code work passed on roll-call votes. City staff said future code language will be drafted to clarify when the fire chief may authorize billing and under what circumstances charges will be sought from property owners or insurers.

The meeting closed after routine reports and the council moved to adjourn. The proclamation recognizing Emergency Medical Services Week (May 17–23, 2026) was also read and entered into the record.