CAMANCHE —
Residents who are not paying their ambulance bills will no longer be able to slip through the cracks if the city passes a new income offset program.
City officials have reported a persistant problem with ambulance bills going unpaid, leaving a total of $63,000 in bills unpaid over the past three years.
“I was shocked,” Fire Chief Dave Schutte said. “I thought we were doing well, until I saw the statement from the insurance company. We really need a way to target this group and hold them accountable.”
Prior to 2009, the city did not charge at all for ambulance service and it was funded entirely by property taxes. Insurance companies were getting by without paying for legitimate services and the taxpayers of Camanche were carrying the entire financial load.
“I was a proponent of charging for the ambulance services and I think it has been a positive decision for the community,” City Administrator Tom Roth said.
The proposed new program would target those who have adequate funds available and simply choose to neglect to pay the charges. There is already a system in place for those who are low-income or are unable to pay their bills. Those who qualify may set up a payment schedule to pay off their bill in whatever timely manner their income allows. The city also accepts assignment from Medicare and Medicaid.
“For every dollar that is billed and unpaid, every resident of Camanche has to pay a share of the lost revenue,” Roth said. “I think that’s reasonable when people simply can’t pay it, but I don’t think it’s fair when people just don’t pay their bills.”
The state of Iowa offers the income offset program to help levels of government collect monies that are due to them.
The city of Camanche currently uses this program to collect unpaid utility bills. Implementing income offset would also help the city avoid dealing with outside collection agencies.
“I like that this program is benign,” City Attorney Tom Lonergan said. “If you turn this over to a collection agency, you have a whole lot of other problems.”
Councilmen requested additional information from Schutte, including the percentage of unpaid bills that are from residents who would be held accountable with the new program. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting when the council receives the additional information.
“When we went from not charging at all to charging it was a big decision,” Councilwoman Linda Kramer said. “I want to make sure we have all the facts on the table first.”
Should the city of Camanche decide to use this program towards ambulance billing, residents will receive a disclosure at the time service is provided, or when a bill is sent, that the city may use the Income Offset Program to collect balances that are past due.
Camanche ambulance services bring in about $80,000 in revenue each year. The city budgets around $160,000 for the ambulance services, which includes wages and new vehicles.
Other actions
· The council adopted an ordinance amending Title III, Community Protection, of the Camanche Municipal Code by adding a new chapter titled “Property Maintenance.”
This ordinance was brought forth to improve the community’s appearance. It outlines specific topics including rodents and vermin, accessory structures, protective treatment, foundation walls, exterior walls, roofs and drainage, broken windows and more.
In general the ordinance states that all structures, equipment and exterior property, whether occupied or vacant, shall be maintained in good repair and in structurally sound and sanitary condition as provided herein, so as not to cause or contribute to the creation of a blighted area or adversely affect the public health or safety.
A violation of the provisions established in the ordinance will constitute a municipal infraction or may be filed as a city nuisance.
· The council set a budget work session for 6 p.m. Jan. 29
Local News
January 9, 2013
Camanche cracks down on neglected ambulance bills
- Local News
-
- County talks anti- nepotism policy, vehicle guidelines CLINTON -- The Clinton County Board of Supervisors this week discussed possible human resources policies. Human Resources Director Lynn Tibbetts introduced a rough draft of an anti-nepotism policy for the county. This policy would prevent a family me
- Northeast preps for end of grade sharing GOOSE LAKE -- The Northeast School Board is planning to add bus stops next year under the worst-case scenario that a Clinton County District Court judge does not force the Easton Valley School District to honor a whole-grade sharing agreement. North
-
Memorial park: A place to remember
FULTON, Ill. -- Fulton American Legion Commander Bill Blecha's goal is to have a park where members of the community can reflect on the sacrifices of past, present and future veterans.
-
Committee looking for new Camanche City Hall location
A committee has agreed to look at alternative locations for Camanche City Hall.
-
CVB director hiring announced
A new director has been hired to lead the Clinton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
-
City creates demolition list
City officials are looking at different properties that need to be demolished throughout the city and soon will consider a new ordinance they hope will deter the need for future nuisance building demolition.
- No one injured in morning fire CLINTON — No one was injured in an early morning fire at Hawthorne Woods Apartments, 1241 Gateway. The Clinton Fire Department was dispatched at 1:23 a.m. today for smoke and fire in a bedroom of a multi-family apartment complex. According to a press
-
City forced to cut $1.1M from budget
CLINTON -- The city of Clinton is scrambling to cut more than $1.1 million from next year's budget because of a settlement that was reached between the Clinton Board of Review and Archer Daniels Midland. As part of a settlement that ADM and the Cli
-
Railport: Clinton, CRDC work on future process
CLINTON — With the first rail-served tenants moving in, officials with the city of Clinton, McClure Engineering and the Clinton Regional Development Corp. met Tuesday to discuss the future of the Lincolnway Railport.
- Proposal to write off sewer debt moves forward CLINTON — The city finance director will have the ongoing authority to write off sewer bills from finalled accounts as long as the balance is under $10, members of the Internal Operations Committee decided Tuesday. City Finance Director and interim C
- More Local News Headlines
