Township Receives New Safety Rating
Citizens will benefit from the Turkey Creek Township and the town of Syracuse new shared safety rating from the Insurance Service Office.
Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported at the Monday, Oct. 9, fire territory executive board meeting the new rating based on an April 2017 ISO review of “equipment, staff, dispatch, water department” and other components of fire safety.
“We are in the top 15 percent of fire territories in the state of Indiana,” said Scott.
The rating affects home and business insurance and now “the citizens will be getting some of their tax money back in insurance premiums,” Scott said.
The rating went into effect Oct. 1.
Scott also reported:
• The fire department has used 52 percent of its operation budget through September.
• The department responded to 15 fire calls and 108 EMS calls in September.
• Department personnel underwent 432 hours of training in September on topics including hose testing, cardiac medications, sudden infant death syndrome response, signs and symptoms of altered mental states, ladder truck positioning and daily truck checks.
• The October outdoor warning siren test will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13.
• The time change will take place Sunday, Nov. 5. “We would like to remind everyone to change the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors when they change the time on their clocks,” said Scott.
Scott further advised, “The cooler months are coming and many structures have furnaces, fireplaces, etc., that have not been utilized for several months. We remind everyone to have their furnaces, fireplaces, etc., inspected for proper operation and to have a carbon monoxide detector in their home if they have any gas appliances or use wood, coal, fuel oil, etc., for heat inside their residence.
“Remember, carbon monoxide is a byproduct of any combustion process.”
Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle reported he asked for an update on the renovations to the township’s two fire stations but has not received a report yet.
“They were getting pretty close or at the point of submitting documents for the bidding process,” he said. “I will contact them in the morning.”
The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at Syracuse Town Hall.