NEWS
Fire rating just one factor used in calculating insurance premiums
By BARBARA GREEN
As ambulance service in the greater Bowie area is debated questions have arisen on how much impact changes to the City of Bowie Ambulance Service and Fire Departments could have on the city’s Public Protection Classification system rating.
During the recent town hall meeting, as well as city council and commissioner’s court sessions people have asked about the future of the department. The city fire department operates with a paid staff which serves as both firefighters and emergency medical responders, plus a volunteer fire department.
The staff is expected to face reductions if out-of-the-city limits calls are eliminated as proposed effective Oct. 1 and the county is exploring proposals to bring in ambulance service for the southern portion of the county served by Bowie ambulance. .
City officials have said have not “discussed” going to a full volunteer department, but they would anticipate there to be reductions in staff if ambulance calls are reduced.
Staffing is just one of the components used to determine an entity’s PPC rating. The figure also is a component used by insurance companies to determine insurance premiums.
The PPC system is a countrywide classification system used by the Insurance Services Office to reflect a community’s local fire protection for property insurance rating purposes.
The public fire protection of a city, town or area is graded using ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule to develop the community’s classification.
Some form of the PPC is used in all 50 states. In 1998 Texas changed to the PPC system from the old key rate system, which had been in place since 1920.
Read the full story in the weekend News and learn more about the Fire Suppression Rating System and how it impacts insurance premiums.
Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.
Six Montague County volunteer fire department have received grants from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.
Nocona Hills Volunteer Fire Department received a $300,000 grant for a water tender vehicle. Montague and Sunset VFDs each received $45,000 for a slip-on unit, and the Nocona rural, Nocona city and Saint Jo VFDs each received $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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