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Nolensville approves interlocal firefighting agreement with Williamson County amid ISO-rating concerns
Summary
The Nolensville Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Williamson County to provide firefighting services for county areas, while commissioners pressed staff and county representatives about a contractual requirement to maintain a specific ISO rating.
The Nolensville Board of Commissioners on June 23 unanimously approved Resolution 25-048, authorizing an interlocal agreement with Williamson County for provision of firefighting services to areas of the county adjacent to the town.
Supporters, including former Fire Chief Windrow and resident Sam Killingsworth, told the board the agreement would provide “enhanced public safety” and continuous service for residents who travel in and out of town limits. ‘‘This agreement has taken a long time … this is enhanced public safety for all, especially those that live in the county areas that are served by the town’s volunteer fire department,’’ Sam Killingsworth said during citizen comment.
The board’s discussion focused on a contractual clause that appears to obligate Nolensville to maintain a specific ISO rating. Commissioner Salome said she "find[s] it concerning that we are contractually obligated to maintain a specific ISO rating" and asked whether the town could be held to maintaining a class-4 rating for county territory beyond the town’s direct service area. Salome warned that an ISO change affects residents’ insurance ratings.
Town staff and county representatives responded that the county wants to preserve the ISO rating its residents receive and that the county’s request is intended to maintain the same level of protection as if the county operated the service. A county representative said the $250 per-call compensation in the agreement was developed after an empirical cost review and was considered reasonable by county negotiators.
Town attorneys and staff noted the contract includes a one-year term with options and an escape clause: if Nolensville cannot maintain the ISO rating, the town has six months to attempt to remedy the issue and the contract contains a six-month termination clause that could allow either party to end the agreement. Staff advised that small language clarifications could be negotiated in future renewals, but that changes now likely would require returning the agreement to the county’s approval process.
The board voted to approve Resolution 25-048 by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The vote means Nolensville will begin the one-year agreement as written; commissioners asked staff to follow up with the county and clarify or amend the ISO language prior to any future renewal, and to provide additional information about how split ISO ratings (areas beyond five miles from the station) would be treated.
