Official expects upgrades to boost rating

LEETONIA -- The village's Insurance Services Office rating should improve because of waterline improvements the past two years, Village Administrator Gary Phillips said.
The ISO classification is used to determine residents' private fire insurance costs.
Phillips said the ISO rating should improve because the village has installed a new 12-inch, high-pressure water main, replaced other waterlines, and installed new fire hydrants.
Availability of water, the improved amount of water pressure, and the number of working fire hydrants all play into the effective operation of the fire department and the fire insurance rating, Phillips added.
An ISO representative will be in the village Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to evaluate fire department operations and the village water system, including water pressure and operation of hydrants.
Part of the testing will include random hydrant flushing, Phillips said. Residents might experience water discoloration or changes in pressure or volume during the ISO representative's visit, he said.
The ISO rating also is based on the representative's inspection of fire department vehicles and other equipment, the number of firefighters available and the training they have, he said.