By Rupert Howell

Batesville’s board of mayor and aldermen took no action Tuesday concerning Panola County’s offer to pay for half the expense of a new fire truck that will serve outside Batesville’s city limits.

When asked, Fire Chief Tim Taylor said the board could accept the offer, decline the offer or counter offer the county’s proposal.

The long-time chief told Alderman Teddy Morrow that he thought the rating bureau would be satisfied with Batesville’s rating status if a new truck was ordered by the end of the year.

The city has asked the county to provide the replacement of the second fire truck needed for the city to maintain its current rating if the city continues to answer calls outside its limits.

The county has offered to pay $109,500 toward the cost of the $289,000 fire truck, less a rural fire truck grant of an additional $70,000.

Batesville is the only fire department in Panola County with full-time firemen.

Following Taylor’s remarks board members heard a recommendation from Alderman Stan Harrison to visit an all volunteer fire department in Cleveland that has a Class 5 insurance rating, three paid employees, 36 volunteer fire fighters and an annual budget of $300,000. The paid employees include a fire inspector, maintenance engineer and assistant. All other positions are volunteer according to their web site.

Harrison told the board that he had talked to several surrounding cities and said that few, if any, leave their city’s boundaries for structure fires unless reimbursed by property owners or insurance companies.
He said that Cleveland’s volunteer department had a $300,000 annual budget. That Delta city has approximately 40 percent more population than Batesville’s 7,500, but its revenue from sales tax is approximately seven percent less than Batesville.

Batesville Fire Chief Tim Taylor told board members that Cleveland had, “a unique situation,” with tremendous number of volunteers turning out to fires. Taylor also noted that Bolivar County, which encompasses Cleveland, has a county fire department also based in Cleveland.