What services should you have to pay for?

[curious3069]

Let me start out by saying I'm a huge believer in following rules, because generally they are there for a reason. However, the "punishment" for not following this rule is completely out of line, even for a complete jerk. For anyone to lose a house and all their posessions over a $75.00 fee is ridiculous. Send him a huge bill afterwards, heck, throw him in jail for nonpayment, but losing the roof over his head? I just don't see how that could ever be ok. Not for $75.00.

 

[tlbwriter]

Why does it matter? Allison asked teh question. I answered it.

I'm just curious. You were the one who compared the fee to a car registration. So I guess you don't think it's an apt comparison after all, if it no longer matters?

Lots of people see the good in the referenced 'violence'.

So now "violence" is in quotes, as if punching someone in the face isn't really violence?

Why are you trying to bait me? Don't you know that that is a violation of forum rules?

What is it about my question that is baiting? You compared two situations. I'm asking you other questions comparing those two situations. If you didn't want to discuss it, why mention it in the first place? How am I "baiting" you by asking you a follow-up question to your own comparison?

 

[DMRick]

I wonder if this was the same son who had the fire in his house three years when he hadn't paid the fee, and they responded to the fire and allowed him to retroactively pay the fee.

Where did you read that?

Someone said here that if the fireman had come right out, before the fire had reached the house, it could have been saved. Where was that reported? How quickly would they have had to get there? If there was that much time, before the house was involved, why were the dogs and cat still insided? I'd like to know how involved the house would have been if they had gotten there right away. Was it already fully involved?

 

[C.Ann]

We pay for trash pick up and our local TAXES pay for the schools, police and FIRE protection. No one should have to pay an additional fee for fire protection. It is unconscienable that the fire department would stand by and watch his house burn down. After they extinguished the fire, they could have sent him a bill, put a lean on his house, started foreclosure procedures for non payment, but to not do their duty put lives at risk and allowed for the irresponsible destruction of property. I would sue the town.

I agree with all but the suing the town part..

We have a volunteer fire dept. here - and I always make sure I give them a hefty donation - but - if they wanted to "set" a $75, that would be fine with me as well.. Quite a bargain to have your home - and possibly the lives of your loved ones saved..

 

[okeydokey]

If everyone has to pay property taxes every year, they can add the fee to the tax statement and then people won't forget to pay it.

I can't imagine sitting outside my burning house knowing that my sweet dog and cats were inside. How horrible.

 

[tlbwriter]

If everyone has to pay property taxes every year, they can add the fee to the tax statement and then people won't forget to pay it.

But the fee goes to a town these people don't live in. They can't simply add a fee to the tax statements of non-residents.

 

[Hannathy]

But the fee goes to a town these people don't live in. They can't simply add a fee to the tax statements of non-residents.

This is the part that so many people forget. He lived in a town that DID NOT have a fire dept. He had no fire service, none!!!!

HOWEVER probably because they are concerned the next town over has decided to offer the residents of the town without fire service the chance that they will cover there property for a fee!!!! They don't have to do this. they get no money to do this except from the people.

Instead of saying how great is is for them to extend this coverage area for a very minimal fee they are getting blamed for an irresponsible entitled homeowner that doesn't even live in their town.

 

[DisneySaver28]

Instead of saying how great is is for them to extend this coverage area for a very minimal fee they are getting blamed for an irresponsible entitled homeowner that doesn't even live in their town.

 

[okeydokey]

But the fee goes to a town these people don't live in. They can't simply add a fee to the tax statements of non-residents.

I'm sure something can be worked out with the town. There is some mechanism that be put into place with regard to billing so that this does not happen again. I believe because of the outrage over this event, something will change. If this man's mother was in the house instead of his dogs, would they have just stood there and allowed her to burn to death?

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I'm sure something can be worked out with the town. There is some mechanism that be put into place with regard to billing so that this does not happen again. I believe because of the outrage over this event, something will change. If this man's mother was in the house instead of his dogs, would they have just stood there and allowed her to burn to death?

Be careful what you wish for. It is possible because of this the fire department will no longer offer the service to those outside of their area. So instead of having the option to pay a very small fee and have fire protection the people outside of the city will have no fire protection.

If you don't like not having a paid fire service and think it should be paid for by your local government you need to take that up with the local government and you better be willing to pay higher taxes for it. I live in the county, not the city, my property taxes are less than half what a same value home in the city pays, I pay a fee to the volunteer fire service and I pay for my trash colection. If I lived in the city limits those things are included in the property taxes.

 

[allison443]

Where did you read that?

Someone said here that if the fireman had come right out, before the fire had reached the house, it could have been saved. Where was that reported? How quickly would they have had to get there? If there was that much time, before the house was involved, why were the dogs and cat still insided? I'd like to know how involved the house would have been if they had gotten there right away. Was it already fully involved?

Here is the interview where he describes paying the fee retroactively for his son after the son had a fire at his house about three years ago.

http://www.examiner.com/us-headline...-s-house-burn-pets-die-over-75-00-video-video

It aired on MSNBC

 

[HelenePA]

If everyone has to pay property taxes every year, they can add the fee to the tax statement and then people won't forget to pay it.

I can't imagine sitting outside my burning house knowing that my sweet dog and cats were inside. How horrible.

The police and fire dept probably did not allow him back inside once the house itself was on fire. I guess then they'd have to go do something about it but really they probably didn't let him back in for his saftey.

 

[DMRick]

Thank you. So I guess they lost incentive to pay the fee, since in the past they came even though the fee hadn't been paid. I can see why they didn't find paying the fee important (because in the past they came anyway).

And he also said, like everything else, he didn't pay enough for his insurance policy. So, I guess the insurance company should say don't worry that you didn't pay enough, we'll rebuild the house anyway.

I do believe if the firemen were already there, they could have just as easily sprayed his house. I do wonder if by the time they got there, they would have been able to save it.

Here is the interview where he describes paying the fee retroactively for his son after the son had a fire at his house about three years ago.

http://www.examiner.com/us-headline...-s-house-burn-pets-die-over-75-00-video-video

It aired on MSNBC

 

[DMRick]

The police and fire dept probably did not allow him back inside once the house itself was on fire. I guess then they'd have to go do something about it but really they probably didn't let him back in for his saftey.

But I thought the fire department didn't come right away..not until the fire started for the neighbors house. Perhaps the time to get the animals out, was when the son lost control of the stuff he was burning. What's the chances the fire department from another county (isn't this fire department from another county?) would have gotten there in time to get animals out? I would have hoped to have gotten my animals out as soon as I realized there was fire. If it wasn't save for the people to get the animals, chances are they would have lost them no matter what.

 

[disney1990]

We pay for trash pick up and our local TAXES pay for the schools, police and FIRE protection. No one should have to pay an additional fee for fire protection. It is unconscienable that the fire department would stand by and watch his house burn down. After they extinguished the fire, they could have sent him a bill, put a lean on his house, started foreclosure procedures for non payment, but to not do their duty put lives at risk and allowed for the irresponsible destruction of property. I would sue the town.

Agreed -- the suit is already in the works.

If you ever visit Old Town Alexandria, some of the buildings still have the "fire plates" on them. When the fire department came, during colonial times, if you didn't have a plate showing that your fire insurance had been paid, they let the house burn down. Boy, we have come a long way.

 

[HelenePA]

But I thought the fire department didn't come right away..not until the fire started for the neighbors house. Perhaps the time to get the animals out, was when the son lost control of the stuff he was burning. What's the chances the fire department from another county (isn't this fire department from another county?) would have gotten there in time to get animals out? I would have hoped to have gotten my animals out as soon as I realized there was fire. If it wasn't save for the people to get the animals, chances are they would have lost them no matter what.

Maybe the police were there first? who knows this whole things is just sucky if you ask me

 

[luvsJack]

I heard that too about the fire starting in a metal trash barrel.....so I guess this rural area doesn't have trash collection either?? Their taxes must be low!

I live in a rural area, our trash collection is not paid by taxes either. We pay a fee to a private company that picks up trash. No pay--no pick up.

Trash pick up is paid by monthly bill. Fire service is added to the water bill.

 

[okeydokey]

I just can't get past the fact that those poor animals burned to death.

 

[DMRick]

For me that's the worst too..but I'm not sure I'm ready to blame the firemen. I'd have to know if they could have gotten there in time to have saved them. I am having a hard time understanding why the owner didn't get them out as soon as the fire started to spread. If the firemen were in the next county, would the animals (or even the house) have been saved, if they did start to fight the fire as soon as possible.

I just can't get past the fact that those poor animals burned to death.

 

[DawnCt1]

I would just like to think that it is totally UnAmerican to stand by, watch someone's house burn down and their pets killed.