EUSTIS – Providing services outside the town of Eustis has prompted the Fire Department to seek approval at Saturday’s town meeting of an ordinance to bill for services.

“The Fire Department is called to respond to a lot of tractor-trailer accidents up towards Coburn Gore,” Town Clerk Kathy Fearon said. “But what prompted this ordinance request was when the department was called for a harvester that was burning in the Coburn Gore area. It was 17 miles off the tar and ended up being in Somerset County. The cost for the department to respond was approximately $3,000,” she said.

An insurance company for the logging company that owned the harvester told officials they could not be billed for service because the town did not have an ordinance to set fees for services. Some insurance companies do respond to the department’s claims but not this one, she said.

The ordinance will apply basically to equipment and accident services outside Eustis, Fearon said. Other services the town will seek payment for include assisting ambulance or emergency personnel with extrication or lifting a person out of an emergency situation, suppressing a fire at a traffic accident or whenever the department has to deal with hazardous substance control.

Suggested fees start with a minimum call-out charge of $200 for going to a scene. Hourly rates of $150 for tanker trucks, $200 for engine trucks, $100 for squad truck and $18 per man are included in the ordinance, although selectmen will be authorized to review and set fees they deem in the best interest of the town.

The town meeting begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Community Building. Residents may vote from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the town office.