Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council tables interdepartmental fire-inspection agreement amid fee dispute with Taos County
Summary
Red River council delayed approval of an interdepartmental agreement with Taos County Fire Rescue for inspections in the Wheeler Peak Fire District, citing unresolved questions about inspection fees (county fee cited as $900) and who should bear costs; the council voted to table the agreement pending fee negotiations.
Councilors discussed a proposed interdepartmental agreement between the Red River Fire Department and Taos County Fire Rescue to continue inspections and plan-review responsibilities within the Wheeler Peak Fire District. The agreement would formalize inspection, plan review and investigation roles for commercial properties and short-term rentals outside the town limits.
Red River’s fire chief and council members expressed concern that Taos County is charging $900 for short-term rental permits and that the town should either receive equitable fee treatment for inspections it performs or negotiate a billing arrangement. The chief noted staffing and liability considerations and urged the council to pursue a fee structure that offsets inspection costs. “I will continue to push the issue with billing fees,” the chief said, describing the operational realities of providing inspections in outlying areas.
Council members discussed whether to approve the agreement now or delay to negotiate fees with the county; some members said they were comfortable tabling the matter to return with a proposed fee schedule. The council voted to postpone action and table the agreement pending further discussions with county officials and staff about appropriate fees and responsibilities.
Next steps: staff and the chief were directed to continue discussions with Taos County about a fee schedule and return to the council at a future meeting; the agreement remains tabled.
