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Fire rating just one factor used in calculating insurance premiums

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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.

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.

Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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