By Rupert Howell

The City of Sardis has let Panola Supervisors know they are getting in line for financial assistance for a new fire truck in order to maintain their level 7 rating with the state’s fire rating bureau.

The City of Batesville most recently received a promise from the county to assists with funding toward the purchase of a new fire truck for that municipality. Batesville is also applying for a Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Program grant and will expend some of its own funds for the purchase.

Sardis Mayor Billy Russell and that town’s fire chief, Chuck Moore, met with supervisors to discuss needs and provided data that showed 83 percent of 420 fire calls  answered by Sardis since November of 2010 have been in the county —outside the Sardis limits.

Moore explained that his department is currently rated “7” while explaining that was the highest it could be without full time firemen.

Asked the cost of a new fire truck, Moore responded between $250,000 and $265,000.

Two Sardis fire trucks are toward the end of their lifes’ expectancy in rating’s terms with a 1990 model exceeding it’s time. Moore explained that he was told earlier to make arrangements to replace the older truck and wanted to begin the process prior to a revisit by the ratings bureau.

He also explained that the other fire truck can remain serviceable with continued maintenance.
The county splits between all 15 fire departments equally, its share of insurance rebate money. Millage is also levied by the county to assist departments with truck purchases and for the first time this year, commuication equipment according to Emergency Management Director Daniel Cole who also serves as the county’s fire coordinator.

Supervisors took the request under advisement.

“We would appreciate any help we can get,” Moore said when finalizing his request.