County proposes to start billing companies for responses to HAZMAT incidents

The county’s continuing search for ways to cut expenses and increase revenues has led to a proposal to bill companies responsible for incidents in which the Dickson County Emergency Management Agency’s HAZMAT team has to respond. Dickson County Emergency Medical Services Director Donny Bear, who is serving as interim emergency management director, told the county commission Monday night that state law allows the county to bill companies for expenses incurred in responding to a hazardous materials situation. Bear said emergency officials can recoup costs from industries, corporations, trucking companies and railroad companies that are determined to have been responsible for any hazardous material situation. County attorney Brian Ragan said the county also can negotiate interlocal agreements with other emergency response agencies to recover some of their costs from responding to calls for assistance. While no figures were presented on what HAZMAT responses have cost the county, Bear said any amount of money recovered will “take the burden off taxpayers.” The commission voted to send the proposal to its Dec. 17 meeting for further consideration.