Brandon Twp.- Area residents will likely be able to save money on their insurance when the township’s new ISO rating goes into effect May 1.
Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur was recently notified that the township’s ISO rating has been improved to a 5 from a prior 5/9 rating. The village of Ortonville will receive a 6 rating.
‘I’m really pleased and this gives me a lot of satisfaction,? McArthur said. ‘There can be significant savings, depending on the value of a resident’s home and the type of policy they have.?
Walt Renn, vice-president and treasurer of Horton Renn Insurance Agency, Inc., said overall the lower ISO rating will decrease insurance premiums for residents and businesses in the township.
‘It’s a complex process of calculating the rate, and protection class is only one factor,? he said. ‘But in essence, rates should go down. When Groveland Township went from a 9 to a 4 ISO rating, we saw savings of as much as $400-$500 a year for some customers.?
Renn advises residents and business owners to contact him or their insurance agent.
The ISO, International Organization for Standardization, provides set standards for fire protection and insurance companies contract with the ISO for ratings. The ISO scale for fire protection ranges from 10 to one, with the lower the number, the greater the fire protection. The Brandon Fire Department formerly had a rating of 9/5, with the 9 rating for water supply, and the 5 rating for personnel and equipment.
McArthur said the new rating is the result of 10 years of progress made by the fire department, including adding fire stations, tankers, and personnel as funds allowed. All improvements were made using the existing millage.
The village has a 1-point difference in their rating because of the lack of an approved water system, such as hydrants within the village limits; however, McArthur plans to have the village reevaluated in November, at which time he expects to have corrected the water system inadequacy.
McArthur said that when the township began the process of getting a new rating in October, he would have been happy to go from a 9 rating to a 7.
‘We got a really good rating for the amount of money we spend,? he said. ‘We’re here to provide the best service we can to the community and I think we do it.?