THE TOLEDO, OHIO, CITY COUNCIL VOTED DOWN the mayor’s proposal to charge homeowners’ and businesses’insurance companies a “fire fee” for fire calls dispatched to their property. The plan was to bill the insurance companies directly -called “soft billing” – $500 for house fire responses and more for business and industrial properties. The vote against was an overwhelming 10 – 2.
This video report by WUPW-TV that was broadcast yesterday afternoon before the vote was taken, shows the fire chief shamelessly telling the city council that they “should take advantage” of this opportunity to charge the insurance companies for providing taxpayer-supported services. Watch:
Fire Chief Mike Wolever said that he was disappointed with the council’s decision. One of the councilmen says that he would like to send layoff notices to an additional 241 city workers as a club to force the unions to grant concessions to the city.
Read the full story in the Toledo Blade HERE.
