A new ranking for the Columbus Fire Department could mean reduced insurance rates for home and business owners in the city. The Mississippi Rating Bureau has rated Columbus a four, which is up from its rating a five where it has remained for the past 30 years.
“This is the first time Columbus has ranked above a five, “Mayor Robert Smith said. “This is outstanding for our city. Only two cities have been ranked threes — Jackson and Southaven. There are no ones or twos.”
Columbus joins other cities ranked four (out of 10) including Biloxi, Gulfport, Tupelo, Greenwood, Meridian and Hattiesburg. Smith said the new rating could mean savings for property and business owners.
“This will allow homeowners to save anywhere from five percent to 10 percent on insurance and business owners could save up to 20 percent on insurance. I would like to commend (Columbus Fire Chief Ken Moore) and his staff for doing an exemplary job. Their hard work and dedication and commitment has paid off.”
Moore said the ratings are how insurance premiums are based. The items considered during the ranking process are water systems and water pressure, fire service to the community and fire safety control.
“We partnered with Todd Gale and Columbus Light and Water to see where we needed to beef up our water pressure,” Moore said. “We also did some enhanced training and other things. We couldn’t have done this without the support of Mayor Smith and the council, the citizens of Columbus and all of the hard workers at Columbus Fire and Rescue.”
One element Moore said was instrumental in the ranting was the council’s recent approval for a new fire truck.
“We are tying up some loose ends with the truck,” Smith said. “We hope to have the new pump truck for the city by the end of the year or the beginning of 2013.”
“This new truck will help us maintain our rating,” said Moore. “These are the things the rating bureau considers.”
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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