The Martin Township Board Wednesday evening adopted an ordinance amendment that will pave the way toward enacting a cost recovery ordinance.
Such a local law has to be worded properly so it doesn’t falsely give local residents the notion they’ll have to pick up the tab. Fire Chief Earl Wykstra and department officials will have a month to come up with appropriate language before final approval.
Cost recovery applies to public safety agencies, particularly fire departments, to enable them to get some reimbursement when they perform services. But the idea is to have cost recovery used when someone who does not pay local taxes requires services.
The cities of Hastings and Wyoming have such ordinances in place, but they have absorbed criticism from those who don’t live in the municipality.
Wykstra said Martin Fire Department members have been looking at three other ordinances and favor the model recently crafted in the City of Wayland. He said it’s important to make certain it would apply only to those who don’t already pay taxes here.
The chief will present the department’s recommendation to the Township Board next month and then a proposed ordinance amendment will be sent to Township Attorney Jeff Sluggett.
