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Warrens board approves $1,000 charge to recover water costs after Cranberry Growers Cooperative fire; adds future fire‑protection fee
Summary
Trustees voted May 13 to charge Warrens Cold Storage $1,000 to recoup water used in a recent fire response and to add a recurring fire‑protection fee to its water bills because the property is not annexed and does not pay village property taxes.
At its May 13 meeting, the Village of Warrens Board of Trustees voted to charge Warrens Cold Storage (part of the Cranberry Growers Cooperative) a $1,000 fee to recover water‑use costs the village incurred during a recent fire response.
The board heard that American Berry Company already pays a fire protection fee through its water bill but that Warrens Cold Storage did not. Because the cold storage property is not annexed into the village and does not pay village property taxes, trustees approved a one‑time $1,000 charge to recoup costs and directed that a fire‑protection fee be added to the property’s future water bills.
Why it matters: trustees said the fee aligns the treatment of similarly served properties and allows the village to recover an immediate expense arising from emergency response. The motion to impose the charge and add fire protection to future bills carried on a motion by Peter Malinger and second by Terri Swope.
Details recorded in the minutes include the service addresses and mailing address for Warrens Cold Storage and the board’s rationale that the property’s non‑annexed status and lack of village property tax payments justified the fee and future billing change. Staff will follow up to apply the fee and ensure billing includes the fire‑protection charge going forward.
