A nearly $25,000 fire services bill sent out by Rocky View County should never had been sent out at all, according to County Reeve Rolly Ashdown.
The Grand ‘Ole West Villa Ranch, an historical attraction near Beiseker, was destroyed by a fire after being struck by lightening in July 2012. After receiving the hefty invoice, the landowners were told by the county that the bill did not need to be paid.
“It shouldn’t have been sent out to begin with,” said Ashdown. “This is a new bylaw that we have, so we’re still working out all the kinks.”
Ashdown said that because the buildings were uninsured and no one was to blame for the fire, the bill was scrapped.
The bylaw was passed midway through last year, but Ashdown said the county was just started enacting the bills in 2013.
He said the county plans to send out a memo to residents with this year’s tax notifications to inform them of the new bylaw and urge them to review their insurance coverage.
“It’s not a new concept, it’s an accepted practice,” said Ashdown about the cost-recovery program. “It’s done in many municipalities across North America.
“If no one had insurance and the County had to pay for fire services for each incident, taxes would increase far more than the insurance premium to cover these charges.”
“The idea isn’t to cost residents money,” he added. “It’s something that should be included in your insurance coverage.”
The insurance companies contacted about this topic decline to comment, but urged homeowners to check their coverage.
Cost recovery invoices can be challenged, said Ashdown. All a resident has to do is send in a letter to council, and the situation in question and request will be reviewed.
Currently, the Town of Cochrane does not run a cost-recovery program, however Mayor Truper McBride said in an email that Council is constantly reviewing Cochrane Fire Services for efficiencies.
“There are fees associated with many municipal services as a means to help offset the cost of providing those services,” said McBride. “As such, there may well be an argument for introducing a cost-recovery program for fire, but that is not something we are currently considering.”
McBride added that the Town will want to look at all the available options for cost recoup, especially with the raised costs of providing municipal services.
The Rocky View County cost-recovery bylaw is listed in detail — which includes a breakdown of costs and services — on the County’s website rockyview.ca.
