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False alarms will bring a bill from fire department in 2007 CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Starting next year, residents and businesses will get a bill of $450 from Halton Hills' fire department, if firefighters have to respond to a preventable false alarm. The charge is among a list of new user fees and service charges the fire department will begin seeking starting January 1, 2007. Halton Hills council approved the new cost recovery initiative at a recent meeting. No one in the community had attended a publicized public meeting on the subject. It includes fees to recover costs for: · Fire service response to unauthorized burning. In the first six months of 2005, the fire department had to respond to 15 unauthorized burn incidents, several of which resulted in grass and brush fires. In some instances restricted household garbage was being burned. While the fire service had successfully prosecuted in court blatant offenders, the service does not receive the court penalties. As a result, the following new fees will be imposed by the fire service: First offence-- a verbal warning; second offence-- $100 and a written warning; third offence-- $200, and notification that charges will be laid if another occurrence happens; fourth offence-- $450 and charges will be laid under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. Similar fees and penalties are imposed for contravention of open air burning permits. The fire service recently had to suspend permits of several individuals and a company, all of whom did not adhere to permit requirements, and charges were laid when they continued to burn materials after their permits were revoked. · Fire service response to preventable false alarms. In 2005, the fire department responded to more than 100 false alarms, and a number of them resulted from companies failing to inform the service or monitoring company that the alarm was being tested or repaired. Other preventable false alarms usually result from poor maintenance. The new penalty fee is set at $450 for the first offence and $600 for subsequent offences resulting from repair or testing or two or more alarms resulting from equipment malfunction within a 30 days period. · Issuing a permit to conduct open air burning. Changes include where curbside pickup of yard waste is available to residents, permits will not be issued. For those who do have yard waste pickup, permits will be issued on this basis: recreational (chimnea or fire pit) and/or disposal of yard waste, $20; for commercial disposal of clean waste on construction sites, $200 and no cost for farms. · Issuing a permit to sell fireworks. Those selling fireworks from roadside stands or other temporary facilities will be required to get a $110 Permit to Sell Fireworks. Variety stores and other similar permanent businesses that wish to sell fireworks will be required to obtain a permit, but will not be charged a fee. · The cost of consumables used in the fire service's response to hazardous materials spills This is already normal practice, however the new policy now formalizes it. (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Rebecca Run set for July 8 The fifth annual Esso Rebecca Run for SMA will be held in Newmarket Saturday, July 8. The event, named for 6-year-old Limehouse girl Rebecca van Fraassen who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a devastating neuromuscular disease, will be held at Fairy Lake in Newmarket and will feature a 1 km SMA Scamper beginning at 9 a.m., 3km Walk at 9:15 a.m. and 5 km Run at 9:45 a.m. Since the run's inception it has raised more than $400,000 for cure/treatment research for SMA. Organizers hope to top the $500,000 mark this year. "We are incredibly thankful for the success we've had to date," said Louise Smith, Race Director. "Raising this kind of money is quite rare with a small family-oriented event." Darren Bray, President of the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada (FSMAC) said money raised goes toward research being carried out in Canada. "This is a very exciting time for us in terms of progress with SMA research, and we have great hope for children affected by SMA," said Bray. "Today, numerous researchers in Canada and around the world are focused on different aspects of the disease, with a view to finding a treatment or cure." The 2006 run is dedicated to six-year-old Hayden MacIntrye, who has beat all odds with SMA. He was diagnosed with SMA at the age of eight months and wasn't expected to live until his second birthday. He has participated in every Rebecca Run to date. As in previous years, the day's activities will include a post-race barbecue for all participants and volunteers, kid's face painting and draw prizes. A silent auction will feature more than 150 items valued from $5 to $1,000. "It is the commitment from Esso, Running Room, and countless other sponsors and volunteers that has allowed the Rebecca Run to become such a successful event. Esso in particular has come on strong with something called the Esso Community Program that encourages local, independently owned dealerships to promote and assist with local community events," said Smith. For more information on the run visit www.rebeccarun.com.