City of Center Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY ISO RATING REDUCED TO “3”
Reduction Should Mean Lower Insurance Rates For City Property Owners
Center Fire Department Now in Top 5% of All Departments in Country

CENTER, Texas (January 22, 2013) – The City of Center is excited to announce that the Insurance Services Office (ISO) has enhanced the City’s rating from a 4 to a 3.  “At the beginning of the FY 2012 Budget, the Council set a goal of improving our ISO rating,” explained Center Mayor David Chadwick.  “I am thrilled that we have been able to meet that goal.”

ISO ratings are assigned to communities based on scoring criteria:  50% of the score is the total classification of the fire department itself, this includes personnel and equipment; another 40% of the score is the total classification of the City’s water supply system, this includes infrastructure, water supply, water flow and pressure; the final 10% of the score is the total classification of the City’s dispatch capabilities.  There are also supplemental points given to the City because of the building code and inspection departments.  A community has to contact ISO to initiate an audit.  The results are then tabulated after which ISO will change the classification.

“We were able to really improve our points through major apparatus purchases over the last couple of years and some improvements we have made to the water system,” said Center City Manager Chad Nehring.  “The Volunteer Fire Department pledged $100,000 to purchase a pumper truck two years ago.   That pumper truck and the 75 foot aerial ladder truck the City acquired in December 2011 dramatically improved the points for responder apparatus.”

The Center Fire Department now ranks near the top of all Texas fire departments.  “There are 2,412 fire departments in Texas,” reported Center Fire Chief Keith Byndom.  “About 6% of all departments in Texas are rated at a 1 or a 2 and another 8% are rated at a 3 which is where we are now.  Nationwide, however, we are within the top 5% of all fire departments.”

The lowered ISO rating should reduce property insurance rates inside the City of Center.  “ISO will be coordinating with the Texas Department of Insurance and the State Fire Marshal’s Office to push this information to the insurance carriers,” according to Chief Byndom.  “We are encouraging people to also be sure to tell their agents when their policies are ready to be renewed.”  The effective date of this change will be June 1, 2013.

The improved rating only affects those properties that are inside the City limits or those within 1,000 feet of a City fire hydrant and within 5 miles of the Center Fire Station.  Chief Byndom continues, “Properties that are outside those areas have an ISO rating of 8B.”  The Public Protection Classifications range from 1 (best) to 10 (worst).

“Over the next few months, we will be reviewing the ISO data to see where further improvements can be made to increase our scores to provide an even lower ISO rating,” reported Nehring.  Mayor Chadwick continued, “I am very proud of all our City staff and the Volunteer Fire Department for their work in making this happen to provide another benefit for our property owners.”

City of Center
617 Tenaha Street
Center, Texas 75935
Jim Gibson
936/598-2941