Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Granbury’s ISO rating upgraded to Class 2; takes effect April 1, 2025
Summary
City officials and the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department announced a move from an ISO 3/3Y to 2/2Y after an audit, a change officials say should lower insurance costs for properties within the city and recognize investments in water, communications and fire services.
Deputy City Manager Michael Ross and Granbury Volunteer Fire Department Chief Matt Hohan told the City Council that Granbury’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification has improved from Class 3/3Y to Class 2/2Y, a change that takes effect April 1, 2025.
The upgrade follows a comprehensive ISO audit that assessed emergency response capabilities, water supply, emergency communications, fire inspections and records, and public education programs, officials said. "Following a recent comprehensive audit, Granbury's classification will improve from a 3 slash 3 y to a distinguished 2 slash 2 y," Deputy City Manager Michael Ross said.
The new classification could reduce insurance premiums for some residents and businesses and is frequently cited by economic development officials as a factor in site selection decisions, Ross said. Chief Matt Hohan said the rating reflects multidepartment investments and years of work by the volunteer department. "This new classification will take effect on April 1, 2025," Hohan said.
Hohan explained how the numeric designations apply inside the city: a Class 2 rating generally covers locations within 100 feet of a fire hydrant, while a 2Y designation covers locations inside the city that are more than five road miles from a station but still within about 1,000 feet of a hydrant. "So a 2 is anywhere within the city and 100 feet of a fire hydrant; the 2Y is anywhere in the city plus 5 road miles," Hohan said. He added that the department’s effort spanned roughly eight years and intensified in the last two years as multiple departments coordinated improvements.
Hohan provided comparative figures for perspective: in Texas, 333 organizations hold a Class 2 rating out of 2,865 recognized entities, placing Granbury in about the top 13 percent in the state; nationally, he said, Granbury is in the top 5 percent. The department also marked the occasion by distributing challenge coins to recognize participants and supporters.
City officials credited recent investments for the outcome, including water infrastructure projects such as the Meander water tower and equipment purchases. One city official noted the council approved a half-cent tax increase two tax seasons ago to fund firefighting equipment and said the rating is a measurable result of that investment.
Officials also emphasized the role of volunteers: the volunteer fire department has more than 70 members, and the city official briefing said replacing the volunteer force with paid staff across multiple stations would cost millions. The official cited an estimated taxpayer savings of about $0.30 per $100 of assessed value and suggested replacing volunteer labor with paid staff would cost in excess of $3 million to $4 million.
No formal council vote or motion was recorded during the presentation; the announcement was informational and staff indicated the ISO classification change will become effective on April 1, 2025.
