The City of Two Rivers will ask skilled care facilities to foot the bill when they are called to certain incidents.
The city council approved an ordinance allowing the City of Two Rivers Fire Department to bill third-party facilities $250 per lift assist when no injury or medical necessity exists.
The department is experiencing growing operational and financial concerns related to the increasing number of non-emergent lift-assist calls originating from skilled care and assisted living facilities.
In 2025 alone, they responded to 330 fall-related incidents, and that trend continues into this year.
Fire Chief Dave Murack says the change will not affect private citizens.
“This is not by any means something that would forbid the facilities to call 911,” he explained. “I don’t want to deter them from calling 911. Please do so. But just be aware if it’s something to supplement staff, a charge might be coming to you.”
There was a fee previously for calls for service through the department, but Murack says the ordinance will encourage proper staffing and resource allocation within care facilities.
He also says it establishes a fair and consistent cost recovery mechanism and aligns with practices adopted by other cities.
