The Boone Policy and Administration Committee unanimously approved a proposal that would move forward with providing a fee structure for when the Boone Fire Department is actively involved in a vehicle fire or vehicle extrication involving a non-resident, or the cleanup of hazardous material, at its meeting last week. The proposal added specific dollar amounts to the hazardous material cleanup ordinance, which had previously noted a charge without a specific amount. The fees for the fire department putting out a vehicle fire or extricating a person from a vehicle would not affect residents residing in the city of Boone or the five townships, covering a majority of Boone County.
"This standard here is pretty much being adopted across the state by all fire departments," Boone Fire Department Chief Ed Knight said. "This is not meant to put anyone in financial hardship. If the people have a functioning insurance policy in place, we will bill the insurance policy."
Knight said that for vehicle fires and vehicle extrication, if the non-resident driver's policy does not cover the fee, consideration could be made to waive the fees.
Under the fee schedule, non-residents would be charged $250 for a vehicle fire when the fire department deploys and activates a hose line to suppress the fire, and $300 for vehicle extrication when the department must remove an occupant using hydraulic extrication equipment.
The fees are a standard that is being accepted all across the state.
The committee also recommended that information be sought on the possibility of a charge associated with putting out fires at tax-exempt properties in the area when the fire department is dispatched.
During the City Council meeting that followed, Knight informed the council during his report that 17 candidates are being looked at for the paid on-call firefighter position.
The applications have been submitted to Boone Police Department Chief Bill Skare for background checks, and the applicants will then be subject to training, where they will be required to meet the same criteria that the career firefighting staff has.
"It's not going to be a quick process, but we will get it done," Knight said.
An alternative plan to the city's proposal to create a Department of Public Safety was also heard by the council. The proposal would have redirected funds from Knight's salary after his retirement to hire additional firefighters and create an alternative to the original plan that would have both police and fire departments overseen by a Department of Public Safety director. The proposal failed 6-1, with Councilman Travis Stevenson casting the lone vote in support of the alternate plan.
The Boone City Council will next meet May 4.

Reach editor Greg Eckstrom at geckstrom@newsrepublican.com.