Yorkton’s city council passes emergency response fee caps

Yorkton City Council capped emergency fire charges at $5K for homes and $50K for businesses.

On Monday, Yorkton city council passed the amendment for the fire prevention bylaw pertaining to emergency response fee caps.

“We put a cap in place [for cost recovery] emergency [charges],” Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said on Tuesday. “The residential cap is $5,000, the commercial is $50,000, and there’s no cap on industrial and agricultural.”

The mayor said the amendment was brought about by the previous council.

“It’s something that’s been done in a number of medium-sized cities like ours throughout Saskatchewan and Canada.”

The process, however, was done somewhat differently in Yorkton.

“We didn’t employ another company to handle it, we were doing it internally,” he explained. “I think that raised awareness of us bringing on a new program.”

In various Yorkton-based groups on social media, it certainly generated quite a buzz. Commentors called it a “cash grab” and expected reduced taxes in return for the added service to their insurance plans.

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“The taxes cover that first crew showing up, that first truck showing up, all the fire suppressant that’s needed,” he clarified to CTV News on Tuesday. “The new bylaw sets caps on extra expenses, only when additional firefighters and equipment, or mutual aid are needed.”

Kienle said these are needed in about 14 per cent of fire events, based on the past five years. He said he thinks that the insurance companies will understand this.

“[Mayors in other cities which implemented the program] never had any pushback as far as how insurance rates have gone way up or there’s been any major change because, to be honest, it’s very rare,” he said.

Kienle said the new caps will create insurance for the city.

“If there is a larger scale fire that happens, the additional fees aren’t borne by the entire community paying more in taxes. [The caps] actually keep that a bit lower, [because] the person’s individual insurance will help cover those additional charges.”

The bylaw applies within the City of Yorkton and to properties outside the city that receive service under formal agreements.

“Now the work is to communicate with the brokers and with the residents,” Kienle said. “When people go in to renew their insurance or look at what their insurance covers, they’ll know what they need to have.”

He advises residents and business owners visit Yorkton’s Shape Your City website to learn more about the amendment.