In Dec. 25 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Reporter

Jamestown Mayor Brooks Bates said that residents that live outside of Jamestown's city limits that receive services from the fire department could soon face a fire subscription fee, much like residents outside Russell Springs now face.

Bates suggested that the city was losing money on runs outside the city limits and with the current economic situation, that this wasn't a feasible practice to continue.

He said the Fiscal Court pays the city $5,000 each year toward the providing of fire protection but that  doesn't even cover the costs department's vehicle insurance.

At the end of the discussion, no action was taken on the issue but Bates said he would soon meet with Fire Chief Tony Wright to discuss the situation further.

In other happenings at the meeting:

• Fire Chief Wright also discussed for some time the most recent testing of the fire department's trucks and equipment.

Last month, the department's vehicles were tested to try and improve their ISO score. Improving the score would have meant lower insurance premiums for home and business owners in the service ares.

Wright said the city presently has a Class 5 ISO rating.

He said when the trucks were last tested seven years ago, the department's score was less than 1 1/2 percentage points from obtaining a lower ISO rating.

Wright said the results of the preliminary tests on the trucks last months showed that two pumper trucks the city uses had a hard time passing the ISO standards. Wright said one of the trucks had been in operation for nearly 40 years.

The fire chief voiced his concern on updating the trucks as it would likely be costly for the city and finding the right person or business to work on the trucks would likely be expensive.

Wright also discussed for some time the possibility of the city buying a new or used fire truck as many at the department were showing their age. While Bates agreed, he said money was tight and that the city couldn't afford a new truck at this time but will be remembered as economic times improve.

• The mayor announced that the new water plant would be producing water on Jan. 7.

"They have had a trial run and everything went well," Bates said. The plant has also requested to produce six million gallons a day and Bates suggested that would be the case.  

• Mayor Bates told the council that the cemetery board had purchased an additional seven plus acres for the city's cemetery for $20,000. The land purchased is at the back of the cemetery and will give the city another 3,000 to 3,500 graves.

• The council heard the first reading of an ordinance updating personnel policies and procedures, compensation and classification plan.

• All six incumbent council members, Larry Joe Murray, Terry Robertson, George Ralph Garr, Marcelene Taylor, David Lawless and Harold "Frog" Miller, were sworn in for another two-year term before the meeting by City Clerk Kim Weston.

• Councilman Harold "Frog" Miller announced that he will be having hip replacement surgery on Jan. 21.