Plymouth City Council considers fee for non-emergency calls to residential care facilities

The Plymouth Common Council heard the first reading Monday evening of an ordinance that would implement fees for non-emergency responses and lift assistance at residential care facilities.

While the City of Plymouth maintains fire, paramedic, and emergency response personnel for emergencies within city limits and in Center and West Townships, officials say non-emergency calls to residential care facilities that charge fees to residents represent an unwarranted drain on city resources and can delay response to true emergencies.

According to the ordinance, "Non-emergency responses and lift assists are regularly being provided by the city's emergency responders at residential care facilities for multiple residents, and city residents should not bear those costs."  The ordinance aims to shift these costs from taxpayers to the facilities benefiting from the services.

Under the proposed ordinance, the fire chief or designee is authorized to bill care facilities for each incident.  The first, second, and third incidents per calendar year would be $500 per non-emergency response or lift assist, while the fourth and subsequent incidents per calendar year would be $1,000 per incident. The fire chief has the authority to waive fees after reviewing individual incidents. An appeal process is also included in the ordinance.

The city council will consider second and third readings of the ordinance at their meeting on Monday, January 26th. If approved, the fee will take effect on February 1st.