Fannin County Fire Chief Larry Thomas told the Board of Commissioners, during a meeting Tuesday, November 26, that all of the fire hydrants in the county have been inspected and hose and pump testing will be conducted just after the first of the year.
According to Thomas, he does not have a date for the Insurance Services Office (ISO) to come back in and re-inspect the county because they have not returned his phone calls.
Chairman Stan Helton asked, “So you are hopeful to get them back up here soon?”
Thomas responded, “That’s what I’m hoping for by July of next year.”
Thomas said he has spoken at a City of McCaysville meeting, however he has only talked to the City of Blue Ridge and City of Morganton mayors regarding servicing the hydrants that are currently out of service.
Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson urged Thomas to expedite the pump servicing stating, “Make it clear, responsibility wise, it’s up to the townships. Will you be following up with them and making sure that we expedite that as much as possible because the citizens of Fannin County might be, ya know, hurt.”
During the meeting, Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson wanted to make it clear that the county did not “fail” the Insurance ISO inspection.
“No-one failed, the status changed because of the status of the infrastructure,” he said.
Helton asked how the addition of six full-time firefighters, which is currently in the proposed 2020 budget, would be beneficial to not just to the county, but in lowering the ISO rating.
Thomas said they would be a help in building inspections, truck check-offs, maintenance on pumps and equipment, training and more.