Homeowners Insurance May Go Up In Garden City Fire District

Chris Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  September 17, 2015. The governing board of the Garden City Fire District held their regular monthly meeting in Garden City.   All members were present except Jenny England.  

The main item of discussion was a letter received from national Insurance Service Office (ISO) which indicates that they propose to downgrade our fire safety rating in the entire district from 6/6x to 7/7x in the next period.  Insurance companies often use ISO (a national company) ratings to set homeowner’s policy insurance rates and a downgrade would likely mean an increase in all homeowner’s fire insurance policy costs.  It should be noted that not all insurance companies exclusively use the ISO rating.

In the ISO letter to the fire chief (a copy was sent to the Bear Lake Water Company) the only negative comment was an early and entirely separate stand alone paragraph which reads, “The Swan Creek HOA water system did not meet our minimum requirements and is not recognized”.  The Swan Creek HOA is a part of the Garden City Fire District.

No further information regarding the Swan Creek HOA system was provided in the letter and Chief Mike Wahlberg is trying to learn more about the above statement and to learn if that decision and/or other factors were involved in the downgrade, as well as what potential steps could be taken to stop the district downgrade.

In other business it was noted that 3 persons (2 children, one adult) were rescued from the water of Bear Lake by the Fire/Rescue boat, all of whom were clinging to floating equipment (not life jackets).  Absent a rescue of some kind it is likely they would have perished.  The rescue came from a response to a 911 call where someone had seen the people in the water.

In other business Perry Wakefield will not accept reappointment to the board when his term ends at the end of 2015 as he wants to return to the fire department.  A joint Fire Department lake training was completed with Idaho and was beneficial to both entities.  In the previous month there were 3 dumpster fires, 2 carbon monoxide calls, and several other minor items.  The department is seeking to make its foam suppression system on engine 40 functional (no one can remember when it actually worked).  Bids are being requested.  Apart from this aged issue all equipment is in good shape. 

The public hearing on the proposed 2016 budget will be held early in December.  The exact date will appear on tax notices and will be publicized in this paper as the date draws closer.