Mauldin Residents, Businesses Should See Lower Insurance Rates

This week's news that the Mauldin Fire Department has earned a rare Class 2 ISO rating is more than just a feather in the department's cap, it should have real impacts on city property owners and business, too, city officials said.

Insurance companies typically use rating classifications from the Insurance Service Office (ISO) when setting rates. Following a press conference to announce the rating upgrade, Fire Chief Russell Sapp and Mayor Dennis Raines urged all residential and commercial property owners to contact and alert their insurance companies of the upgrade when it officially goes into effect on June 1.

"It's a great day in the city Mauldin anytime we can get together and make an announcement that benefits our citizens and our businesses…. It's great news for them," Raines said.

City Administrator Trey Eubanks said most property owners' insurance rates should see some decrease in rates, but how much such a decrease might be would also be contingent on other factors, such as a property's distance from a fire station or hydrant.

"[The new rating] clearly demonstrates the commitment of Mauldin to have a very high level of fire suppression," Eubanks told Patch. 

That commitment could also have an ancillary effect, helping the city attract business, noted Greenville County Council chairman Bob Taylor and Maudlin's County Council representative Fred Payne, who were on hand for Tuesday's announcement. More than half of the department's service area is outside city limits in Greenville County and city leaders lauded the county's help in attaining the new ISO classification.

"I think the fire department rating is important to business and industry when they are looking to locate here," Payne said. "So it's a positive factor for economic development as well."

The new ISO only came about after years of hard work and planning city and county leaders, said Sapp. Five years ago a 10-year plan was developed that outlined a strategy to accommodate Mauldin Fire Service Area’s rapid growth, he said. The implementation of that plan has included a $2.3 million investment in the new Station 3, addition of a $320,000 engine and $312,000 in new staff for the station, which opened last February.  

Despite all these achievements, Sapp said he still sees room for improvement to solidify the department's new rating. His plans for the future include a ladder truck, new accountability system for each truck, and additional staff.