Essa hikes fire fees
By Richard Blanchard

For the first time since 1994, Essa township has increased its annual standby fee charged to the Town of Innisfil.

Council approved an increase at last week's council meeting from $14,000 per year to $15,400.

Provisions were also made for the fee to increase by four per cent in 2009 and 2010.

The proposed agreement will run for three years.

Township fire chief Paul Macdonald said that the township had not increased the rate charged to Innisfil for 13 years.

This despite the increased costs of fire protection service.

"I have talked to the fire department in Innisfil and there doesn't seem to be a problem with the increase," he said.

The standby agreement allows Innisfil to use the Essa department to provide fire protection services to a portion of Innisfil. The new agreement will expire in December 2010.