Centerville’s ISO rating drops

New rating will bring down property insurance rates

kriner@sunmulti.com

The City of Centerville has reason to celebrate as residents

and business owners will see a drop in their property insurance premiums.

The Centerville Fire Department received the news this week

that its ISO rating is dropping from a class five to a class three. The change

will take effect Aug 1.

Fire Chief Jason Jones said, “This is great for our city and

the department.”

The change in the rating comes after 20 years of being a

class five.

Jones noted that the department has made strides since 1993,

the year of the ISO’s last visit.

He recalled at that time Centerville didn’t have any paid

personnel. It wasn’t until 1995 that the department hired one paid guy. Jones

said the department put three firemen on the paid roster in 1998; today,

Centerville now operates with four guys per shift (three shifts) 24/7/365.

Jones commended the city council and the utilities

department for their commitment to the fire department.

“The commitment from the city council to move our department

forward was critical in lowering the ISO rating,” Jones said.

The report from ISO states that the drop in classification

was a result of a number of fire hydrants being repaired or replaced, the fire

department met all of the training requirements necessary, pump/hose testing

was completed and necessary equipment and tools for the fire truck had been

purchased.

The drop in the rating puts Centerville as having one of the

lowest ratings in Houston County, which in turn saves taxpayers’ money.

Warner Robins ISO rating is a 3, Houston County’s rating is

a 6/9 and Perry’s rating that just recently increased is a 5/9/10.

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