Safer City of Jasper leads to insurance savings for business and residents

Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz announced at a special meeting on Tuesday that the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating had risen from a five to a four. The ISO rating is based on risk and in this case associated with the city’s ability to respond to fires. The ISO rating change reflects the upgrades made to the water supply system and the continuous improvements to the Jasper Fire Department and the Emergency Dispatch.

ISO is an independent organization that serves 45,000 fire districts, insurance companies, and insurance regulators by providing information about risk. Virtually all U.S. insurers of homes and business property use ISO’s Public Protection Classification in calculating premiums.

Mayor Seitz stated the new classification puts Jasper in the top 7% of the 1695 fire departments or districts in Indiana. Only 119 Indiana fire districts are rated at a four or above and only 46 have a three rating or above. Seitz pointed out this is quite an accomplishment from a volunteer fire department that in some cases has better response times than cities that maintain full-time staffed fire departments.

“This is a significant event for Jasper as the improvement in the ISO rating could impact property and casualty insurance rates for the foreseeable future,” said Seitz. “The change in rating for Jasper is the result of long-term efforts in the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department, the Jasper Gas and Water Department and the Jasper Police Department.”

The ISO rating was changed after an audit occurred in Feb. of 2012. The last audit was in 2000 or 2001 according to Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang.

Gas & Water Superintendent Mike Oeding stated the investment made by the Utility Service Board and the rate payers it the new Water Filtration Plant is paying off. He also praised the water department crews for maintaining the operating conditions of the water lines in the city for daily and emergency use.

Police Chief Michael Bennett praised the quality of the city’s dispatch center and the cooperation of the city departments.

The mayor pointed out citizens want to see the impact of decisions made by the city and this is one example of the impact of those decisions.

In the foreseeable future the businesses and residential owners could see some savings on insurance premiums, but according to Kunkel Insurance (the city’s insurance representative) it is impossible to determine the direct monetary benefit to those rate payers. The business sector will likely be more affected than the residential sector in regards to insurance rate deductions and the city can refer to the ISO rating as another attractive quality about moving a business to Jasper.

According to Hochgesang plans are already being made with a goal of achieving an even higher ISO rating at the next audit.