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Residents press council on ambulance billing, volunteer firefighter availability; chief clarifies city billing policy
Summary
Multiple residents urged prioritizing police and fire services and asked whether the city charges for fire or police responses. The fire chief said the city charges for ambulance transports but does not send residents to collections; staff said cost-recovery studies are under review.
Residents at the council meeting raised concerns about how emergency responses are billed and about the reliability of volunteer firefighters.
Nancy Coker told the council that police and fire should be the city's top priority and recounted an incident when she needed an ambulance. She asked whether the city charges for fire and police responses. "Do we charge people?" she asked. The fire chief responded that the city charges for ambulance transports and that finance staff had been examining fee structures for cost recovery. "Currently for ambulance transports, we do charge for that," the chief said. He added the city does not send residents to collections for ambulance bills.
Coker and other speakers also described situations where volunteer responders failed to arrive and urged the council to examine volunteer reliability. Council members and staff pointed to improved response-rate data but acknowledged more outreach and clarity about maintenance and staffing was needed. City Administrator Witherspoon said the city will provide factual information and that associations may engage in advocacy about a millage to support public safety.
