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May 7, 2015 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 19, No. 17
New ISO rating saves homeowners $6M on fire insurance Alpharetta mutual aid has huge role in reduction By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Johns Creek Fire Chief Jeff Hogan, right, and Battalion Chief Cam Huynh celebrate the good ISO rating with the firefighters at Station No. 63 on Old Alabama Road.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – After years of working to improve service, the Johns Creek Fire Department has lowered its ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating to a 2 for the entire community. That will mean a savings of more than $6 million in fire insurance premiums for city homeowners. When Johns Creek came into being, one of the first things it needed was a fire department. But the transition was not smooth. Many department records were “lost” and coverage was spotty in some of the city’s extremities (for an ISO rating of 9). In some, it
was considered nonexistent. That meant homeowners and commercial buildings required much higher fire insurance (an ISO of 10). The ISO is a private, nonprofit company that grades fire departments. Lower numbers signify better fire protection. Insurance companies rely on the ratings premiums for homeowners and businesses. “In 2008, we were starting from scratch,” said Johns Creek Fire Chief Jeff Hogan. “We didn’t have any of the records for the buildings. We didn’t have a fire plan.” The city’s ISO rating (which is the standard for most fire insurers) was at a 4-9-10. That meant most of the city was a solid 4, with 10 being the worst and 1 the best. But some areas were an anemic 9 and those at a 10 were not considered to be
See ISO, Page 34
Eaves: Fulton County future ‘bright’ Optimism, progress in county By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A renewed sense of optimism has grasped Fulton County of late. Long known for dysfunctional politics, the county has turned a corner, says Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves. “This is a new day for the county,”
Eaves said. “The present is bright, and the future is even brighter.” He was speaking at the inaugural State of the County address April 30 to a crowd of legislators and local government officials. EAVES Fulton County has 1 million residents and 14 municipalities. It is the most populous county in the state, as well as the largest in size. This can make its challenges unique.
We are a great county, one county. Our best days are yet to come.” JOHN EAVES Fulton County Commission Chairman Governing can be difficult. While this has proven true in past years, so far this year, the county com-
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mission has already passed several hurdles – a budget was unanimously passed, as was the appointment of a new county manager. Neither have happened in recent memory. “People are beginning to embrace collaborate leadership,” Eaves said. “We can get a whole lot more done working together than going by ourselves. “We are a great county, one county,” he said. “Our best days are yet to come.” Eaves laid out five goals he has for
See EAVES, Page 35
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