JONESBORO — In what has become an annual contribution, the City Water and Light Board of Directors voted Tuesday to contribute $500,000 toward the purchase of a new fire truck for the City of Jonesboro.
City Water and Light is considered a municipal utility, but operates independently of city government. However, in lieu of franchise fees, CWL provides funding to the city in other ways, including free electric and water utility services for city government buildings.
Jake Rice III, CWL general manager, said contributing money toward the purchase of a $753,000 fire truck will be beneficial to customers.
“Since 2006, we have funded $6.1 million to the city’s fire-engine expense,” Rice said. He noted each fire truck provides several years of service. “They run ladder trucks about 20 years, they run pumper trucks about 15 years, so they have a pretty long rotation on their trucks.”
Rice said contributing to the fire trucks helps Jonesboro maintain a Class 1 fire insurance rating, the best rating possible from the Insurance Service Office (ISO). The level of water service provided through fire hydrants also makes up 40 percent of the criteria ISO uses in determining a department’s rating.
“But as we invest money in fire trucks, it leverages the money that we’ve invested in the water system to help with fire insurance ratings and keep premiums down,” Rice said.
