At Monday evening’s regular Vance County Board of Commissioner’s meeting, members discussed steps towards improving the county’s fire insurance classification.
The better the insurance classification, the lower the fire insurance rate for home and business owners. Recently, through the efforts of the Henderson Fire Department and the Department of Public Works, the business fire insurance rating in Henderson was lowered from a five to a four by the state.
County Manager Jerry Ayscue told commissioners during his report that Commissioner Deborah Brown had requested that county volunteer fire departments take steps to improve insurance classifications. He said that discussions had been held in the past regarding passing state requirements, which include state inspections, record searches, and other components. Ayscue told members that the process requires time and resources.
“If the board is interested, I want the full support of the board,” he told commissioners.
Brown reaffirmed her belief that it is important to lower the fire rating outside of the city, including the “golden belt”.
“We can help our taxpayers greatly,” she said.
County Commissioner Danny Wright suggested that money from the windfall of Medicaid relief could be used for the volunteer fire departments.
Board member Tommy Hester stated that the biggest factor affecting fire insurance rating is distance from the fire station, and that the only way to affect that is to build more stations.
Board Chairman Tim Pegram told members, “Saying it and doing it are two different things.” Pegram indicated that he did not think the task would be easy. He further stated the city residents pay a tax to have the fire protection that they enjoy.
The motion to support the initiative to lower the fire insurance rating passed with no opposition.