WATERFORD TWP., Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Waterford Township firefighters say routine calls are piling up, and they’re increasingly coming from the same places.

Citing a rise in non-emergency responses from elder care facilities, Fire Chief Matthew Nye is asking township trustees to approve fees for repeated calls that don’t involve emergencies. Under the proposal, facilities would be charged after their first five non-emergency calls in a calendar year.

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According to Nye, the fire department has recorded a “measurable increase” in routine service calls, a rise he said coincides with staffing cuts inside elder care facilities.

“Repeated non-emergency responses divert personnel and equipment away from emergency readiness and other essential public services,” Nye said.

Firefighters would determine whether a call qualifies as an emergency, with facilities allowed to appeal charges. Unpaid fees would be added to a facility’s tax bill after 60 days.

The proposal would not affect residents, township officials said, and mirrors policies used in Sterling Heights and Bloomfield Township. Trustees are scheduled to vote Jan. 26.