Butler City Council is doing what it has to do in proposing an ordinance that would establish fees for some services of the fire department. The council must seek every potential revenue source, if leaders are to resolve the ongoing fiscal crisis - a crisis, that if not put to rest, could result in financially distressed status and the unpalatable reality of state control.

But, at this juncture, the proposed ordinance is not the clear-cut option that, on the surface, it appears to be. Therefore, before the council gives final approval to the proposed law, it should provide a full explanation of what the measure entails. City residents didn't receive such an explanation Thursday before or after the council unanimously approved the first reading of the proposal.

It would seem that under some circumstances the fees in question could be challenged. Meanwhile, a logical question for people pondering the law's meaning would be under what circumstances insurance would be likely to pay the bill and under what circumstances a bill would be an individual's personal responsibility.

The vague aspects of what is being proposed should be aired prior to final action. If the council is not prepared to provide such an explanation by Sept. 23, the day of the meeting at which the ordinance's second reading and adoption are to take place, that reading and action should be delayed.

As outlined by the council at Thursday's first reading, the new law is aimed at addressing hazardous materials cleanup, technical services and assisting medical service providers. The proposed fees are:

Technical rescue, extrication from a motor vehicle and hazardous materials response: $500 per motor vehicle and $500 per person.

Emergency medical services assist: $250 per motor vehicle and $250 per person.

Hazard control, lighting of an area, and application of oil absorbent: $250 per motor vehicle.

James Coulter, city solicitor, and Larry Christy, city fire chief, said the proposed ordinance is modeled on others in many municipalities in the state. City residents would be interested in knowing whose ordinance the local proposal most closely mimics and what glitches in regard to the law have existed in that community.

It would seem that the fire department's assistance to emergency medical services when the need for the department's response is questionable would be one fee that might evoke reluctance on the part of some people to pay.

Butler's fire department must not be under pressure to operate under a just-make-money mind-set.

At the same time, would the department's striving not to be overzealous from a money standpoint ever put someone's life or well-being in jeopardy?

Coulter said there have been legal challenges elsewhere to eliminate the fees, but courts have upheld the charges. The fees are to apply, rightly so, even if city firefighters respond to a call outside the city.

The fees don't seem unreasonable for the professional services to be rendered, but people's rights under the law must be more clearly spelled out by the council than they have been up to now. Likewise, the council's thinking in regard to the "technical rescue" provision must be more clearly spelled out.

The community must know how bookkeeping for the new fees will be handled and who will be responsible for collecting the money. Will there be provisions within the city government for appealing the fees and, if so, through whom?

At the foundation of the law, if it is in fact adopted, must be the intent to maintain a delicate balance between what services are actually requested by people involved in incidents and those provided because of specific requests from other emergency service providers, or just because a response and help seems like the right thing to do.

The rescue-work fees are aimed at helping the city overcome an end-of-year budget deficit projected to be between $50,000 and $500,000. Longer-range estimates project the city as flirting with a budget deficit exceeding $1 million.

From the standpoint of people who unfortunately will be involved in emergencies, the rescue-work fees law isn't something that will be welcomed. But difficult times are forcing city officials to think of the overall well-being of the city, instead of individual concerns and opinions.

Such brainstorming and such delving into previously uncharted territory should have taken place before the city's fiscal situation became so precarious.

- J.R.K.