After last year’s controversial decision to triple fees for fire inspections, Clark County will change the pricing method in a way that means many business owners can pay less.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said Thursday that the county will charge $130 an hour instead of a flat fee, which currently runs $135 to more than $1,000 depending on the size of the building.
A public hearing on the proposed fee change is set for 10 a.m. April 27 at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
The county does annual inspections of 693 restaurants, hospitals, theaters, factories and other businesses in the unincorporated county and smaller cities.
The fire marshal’s office gives business owners written notice of inspections, and the letter includes a list of common violations. By charging an hourly rate, Dunaway said, he hopes to encourage owners to be in compliance before the inspector walks through the door.
“They can be ready for us, and we won’t be there as long and it will cost them less to do the inspection,” Dunaway said.
Last month, Dunaway reported to county commissioners that after the fees rose in July, the delinquency rate on payments rose 5 to 17 percent, resulting in $50,000 of lost or delayed revenue. Other owners paid but said it was unfair to charge so much.
The fee increase was intended to close a gap in the fire marshal’s budget. After it was implemented, two inspectors left the department and their positions were not filled.
The program, meant to pay for itself, started bringing in too much money, Dunaway said.
The $130 hourly rate would cover the costs of travel, on-site time and off-site paperwork for the county’s fire inspectors and deputy marshals, who earn $26.49 to $35.36 per hour. It also would cover the cost of their cars, computers and administrative support.
Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4508 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.
