The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA,IOWA -- Some Ottumwa residents have raised questions regarding the Fire Department's fee schedule.

The concern is over fees for services rendered by the fire department. The schedule has actually been in effect since 2006, but the city council held a meeting last week to clarify some of the language in the schedule.

Ottumwa Fire Chief Tony Miller says they are not adding anything new to the fee schedule.

"When we go to a car accident, what we do if we provide medical treatment or if we have a fluid cleanup, we bill for that offense. It's a cost recovery for services rendered. We didn't add anything. We didn't delete anything. We just had a clarification of the language to make if more clear."

Miller says the money helps pay for the soaring costs for supplies.

"It's necessary to have these costs to help replenish the supplies that we use. When you go start buying absorbent and pigs, gasoline blankets to absorb oil and fuel with, these things are getting really outrageous in price."

Here is a breakdown of service fees:

Fire Inspections:

• Beer/Liquor Establishments-$35
• Restaurants/Food Establishments-$35
• Daycare Centers-$35
• Initial New Business Inspection-$35
• 2nd Re-Inspection-$50
• 3rd Re-Inspection-$100

Structure Fires(tax exempt property only):

• Hourly rates for each fire engine-$150
• Hourly rates for each fire fighter-$25
• Hourly rates for each officer-$35
• Hourly rates for each officer (IC only)-$50

Vehicle Fires and Crashes:

• Fluid cleanup for Ottumwa resident-$100
• Fluid cleanup for non Ottumw resident-$250
• Medical Assistance for Ottumwa resident-$100
• Medical Assistance for non Ottumwa resident-$250
• Fire Assistance for Ottumwa resident-$100
• Fire Assistance for non Ottumwa resident-$250
• Extrication-$500

Commercial Vehicle Fires:

• Ottumwa resident-$150
• Non Ottumwa resident $500

False Alarms

• 4th Calender Year False Alarm-$50
• 5th Calender Year False Alarm-$100
• 6th Calender Year False Alarm-$150
• 7th Calender Year False Alarm-$200