Fort Dodge may forgive fees to some who can’t pay anyway

The Fort Dodge City Council’s looking at forgiving a new fee for some residents. Firefighters suggested charging for calls that bring out emergency response crews, fire trucks and ambulances, because those calls cost the city so much. They responded to more than 1,300 calls to medical emergencies last year in Fort Dodge. They point out when the hospital sends paramedics and an ambulance, it charges as much as 800 dollars. But the city’s sent bills for 150-dollars to almost 100 people so far and gotten paid for fewer than one out of ten. Many people have complained and on Monday the council will consider amending the new policy to forgive the fee for low-income clients. Still, budget problems have forced the city to impose new fees for everything from cleaning up fuel spills to checking out false burglar alarms.