Fire inspection costs increase in Morgan County
Nov 10, 2023 09:46AM ● By Linda Petersen
Morgan County Fire/EMS has raised its rates for fire inspections. The amount the department was charging previously was not even covering half the cost of the fire marshal and fire warden, Chief Boyd Carrigan told members of the county commission on Oct. 17.
With wages, vehicle leases, computer programs, and office supplies, the department’s total operating cost is $35,200 per year, he said. “For 2023 our generated revenue so far is $7,625 19, which if we break it down, is $14 per hour we are currently recovering of the $35 cost per hour to operate.”
“As you can see, we are far short of our goal, “ he added. “Our per year goal for services rendered should be $118,000 to equal the $35 per hour which would be half the fire warden's hours or the fire marshal’s hours.”
To address the shortfall, Carrigan proposed fee increases for all home inspections:
Current Proposed
Homes up to 3,600 square feet $150 $200
Homes above 3,600 square feet $200 $300
Carrigan also proposed an addition of 13 cents per square foot for all detached garages sheds commercial and multifamily structures. Breaking out those costs is necessary because “simply, they are different structures, not homes,” he said. “Some are simple like sheds and detached garages; others are more time-consuming like commercial and multifamily.”
County commissioners agreed with Carrigan that the increase was necessary and voted unanimously in support of it.
“I appreciate all the work that went into this,” Commission Chair Mike Newton said. “You clearly spent a lot of time determining this, and that's something that's important when we're setting a fee schedule I think. So I like the proposal; I'm in favor of it.”
“I will say having the opportunity to compare these fees to some other jurisdictions, these are still quite reasonable,” Commissioner Robert McConnell added.
Carrigan also reported that his department has received 657 callouts so far this year compared to 620 for all of 2022.
“We’re fully staffed; we just finished fire one and Fire 2 classes for 15 firefighters,” he said. In January firefighters will begin taking advanced EMT classes and wildland training. They will also be starting a Line Creek fuels mitigation project using a $200,000 grant the fire department has received. Hopefully the department is expecting to receive a new fire engine in April, Carrigan added. λ
