Duluth mayor pulls plan for emergency fees
by The Associated Press
 
DULUTH -- Duluth Mayor Don Ness has pulled a proposal that would've charged residents for some police and fire services.

Ness says the idea ``was not given proper attention.''

The plan called for charging for services such as fire suppression, car accident investigations and vehicle extractions -- and it became the subject of a joke on Tuesday night's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Ness says the idea was proposed when city departments were asked to come up with strategies to aid the city's budget.

Ness says the idea is based on similar plans in other communities, but it wasn't properly considered before it was listed on the City Council agenda and it caused some confusion. He's directing the police and fire chiefs to provide more information before moving forward.