Commissioners discuss accident response ordinance
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — Polson City Commissioners discussed the first reading of Ordinance 660 that would authorize the Polson Volunteer Fire Department to bill people’s insurance for incident response for car accidents.
The ordinance has tiered prices, from providing hazardous materials assessment and scene stabilization for $435 to use of the Jaws of Life at $1,800 to $2,200 for a helicopter transfer.
The Polson Rural Fire District board has also been grappling with the issue; the board has concerns about only billing people who have insurance, and they have been waiting to see a contract with a company that provides a billing service.
With budgets tight, the money raised would be designated for fire department training and equipment, such as a new ladder truck. New trucks start at $750,000 to $800,000, according to Karen Sargeant, PVFD Information Officer, and used trucks would be around $335,000.
Comments included:
• concerns about increased insurance rates
• insurance policies already include this fee
• targeting people who have insurance
• outsourcing a job (billing insurance) that could be done locally
• exempting people who pay city and county taxes already
Although he said he wasn’t speaking for the whole fire board, PRFD Chair Fred Nelson said, “If the rural decides to do it (bill), we’re going to bill everybody or nobody.”
Polson City Manager Todd Crossett said whatever the commissioners decide it should jive with the PRFD.
The first reading of Ordinance 660 passed, and it will need to pass a second reading.
Later in the meeting, Sargeant updated the commissioners on the recycling program she started.
Both the city and the Polson School District are recycling, and the Parks Department has been collecting and delivering to the Lake County Transfer Station.
“Just since June, we’ve recycled 10,675 pounds of cardboard …” Sargeant said “… The recycling program is very successful.”
Sargeant said she would be turning the program over to the individual schools.
Steve Stanley, Lake County Office of Emergency Management, presented the new Emergency Operations Plan draft. The 275-page document is on the city’s homepage at www.cityofpolson.com and a copy is also available at Polson City Hall.
During city manager comments, Crossett reported:
• the Polson Business Community honored Sargeant, the Polson Park Superintendent, with a plaque for her “hard work beyond the call of duty.”
Crossett added that the Farmer’s Market also sent Sargeant a $500 check for the Parks Department.
• the final walk though of the Streetscape Project will be Nov. 17. The fundraising committee, which is working to add benches, plants, trash cans and bike racks is doing great work, Crossett added.
• the stop signs on Main Street have generated positive and negative comments, with the positive comments gaining. The city is looking at putting an additional stop sign on 7th Avenue W. and Main Street and perhaps installing yield to pedestrian signs on Fifth and Sixth Avenues. They are also fabricating storm water grates in-house so no one slips and gets hurt.
• the golf course restaurant broke even
• Polson City Hall redesign started on Nov. 15
• Polson City Library will be on the Dec. 6 agenda
The next Polson City Commission meeting will be held on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
