Troy Summerill will be reading the following at the City Council meeting, tonight:

Mayor Bunker and esteemed Council: 

On behalf of the membership of the Hospitality Associates of Ocean Shores I am here to ask your consideration of repealing the recent fire department fees lodged against the business community. As president of the associates, I have heard from the majority of our membership voicing concern for the added fees when these economic times have stretched their cash flow positions to deficit proportions. We believe that further examination and review of these changes and fees by the city council is needed.

Following are only a few comments from our members and submitted for your consideration:

Capt. Lynn Powell of the Ocean Shores Fire Department was named “2009 Firefighter of the Year” by The Daily World. Photo below by Mike McGregor:

“I’m ticked off,” says Kelly TerBush, of Going Coastal. She’s upset over a letter from the Fire Dept., informing her of a $60 fee for safety inspection. “I feel like the City’s nickel and diming us . . . The City makes mistakes, and the business owners have to pay for it.”

Fire Dept. phone number: 289-3611

City Hall (Mayor, Council members, etc.): 289-3099

“I say bulldoze the building and move to Oyehut!” So says a local restaurant owner, just barely getting by, after receiving a bill from the Fire Dept.: $200, for having a propane tank.

These fees were passed, unanimously, by City Council in December. The Fire Department was looking for ways to generate income, and avoid lay-offs, and enforcing the propane tank fee (which, apparently, had been “on the books” but not enforced), was one of them. Another one: $60 fees for inspections.

The only person who spoke against  these fees? Dave Creighton, who owns Sand Castle. After expressing his disgust (it’s purely a fee, no inspection) over the “money grab” propane tank fee, he recused himself from the vote.

No other businesses expressed concern over this at the meeting (probably, because they weren’t represented).

The day of the meeting, Dec. 8, the northcoastnews.com Web site posted the list of proposed fees, taken from the agenda posted at osgov.com.

According to the department, the Ocean Shores Fire/Paramedics responded to 1,775 medical calls in 2008, and 498 fire calls. The chart below doesn’t display fully, cutting off under Fire (498 calls) Public Assists, 244; Fires, 254; Smoke/Fire 176.

here are the proposed Fire Dept. fees:

Fee Schedules Page 1 of 4 Resolution No.

SCHEDULE “A”

OCEAN SHORES FIRE DEPARTMENT MASTER SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES

INSPECTION

$60.00

NEW CONSTRUCTION ON-SITE INSPECTIONS $60.00 HR

REVISIONS TO APPROVED PLANS MEETING $60.00 HR

DEMAND INSPECTIONS (UNSCHEDULED) $60.00 HR

On the agenda for the 6 p.m. City Council meeting tonight (what is optimistically being called “the last City Council meeting of the year)” are items concerning the budget, as well as proposed new (increased) Fire/Paramedic fees.

Here are the proposed ambulance fees:

Residents                                                Non-Residents

Advanced Life Support I – $945           Advanced Life Support I – $1,310

Advanced Life Support II – $1,190      Advanced Life Support II – $1,555

Basic Life Support I – $765                  Basic Life Support I – $1,130

Basic Life Support II – $765                 Basic Life Support II – $1,130

from Lt. Brian Ritter, OSFD:

“From November 18th through December 4^th the Ocean Shores Fire Department has responded to a total of 83 emergency 911 calls. Of these responses 55 were emergency medical problems and 5 were emergency fire responses. During this time period the fire department had 10 occasions that 2 emergencies were going simultaneously (“DOUBLE”) .

At last night’s council meeting, there was also a good deal of talk about the services the Ocean Shores Fire/Paramedic Dept. gives outside the city, and how much places like Copalis Beach, Moclips, Pacific Beach and Taholah should pay for ambulance service. Chief Jim Hodges said he plans to increase contributions from “outside the gate” areas.

Here are some recent stats on calls provided by the Fire Department:

From November 1^st through November 18^th the Ocean Shores Fire Department has responded to a total of 101 emergency 911 calls. Of these responses 94 were emergency medical problems and 7 were emergency fire responses.During this time period the fire department had16 occasions that 2 emergencies were going simultaneously (“DOUBLE”) and 6 occasions that 3 emergencies were going simultaneously. (“TRIPLE”)

The call volume is up 55 calls from last year.