Bowmanstown Borough Council on Tuesday enacted an ordinance that will charge user fees when members of its volunteer fire company respond to certain emergencies.

The borough said emergency responses to highway incidents are on the rise - as are the training and equipment standards for the fire company.

Hoping to avoid upping property taxes for borough residents to cover the demands being met by the volunteer apparatus, the borough will now charge a fee to the insurance carrier of owners whose homes or cars are the subject of a rescue. The fee will be filed as an “added-on cost” to claims already being made for damages to cars, property or for injury.

If the owner of a car or home involved in a rescue does not have an insurance policy, it will be the owners’ responsibility.

Funds collected through the borough’s new policy will go to the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company. The money will be spent on personnel, supplies and equipment.

Mayor Zachary Snyder said in the past that in the majority of cases, the fee is paid by insurance companies, but an ordinance was needed to allow the fire company to bill them. The fee will only apply to a response where “there would be an insurance claim,” he pointed out in March.

“It helps fund the fire company for what they’re responding to,” said Snyder. “They’re not collecting a salary. They’re still a volunteer service, but essentially, they’re being reimbursed for what they’re using.”

Bowmanstown Borough Council also discussed on Tuesday:

• The Lime Street construction project resumed on April 22, after being shut down for more than 30 days.

• Whether or not to open the borough office up to the public. It was decided that Councilman Rob Moyer will look into making sure the office is up to date with health guidelines before that happens.

• Where to place new security cameras around the building. Last month, there was an attempted break-in at the building on Ore Street. The back window was tampered with.