A five-year plan to lower Lincoln County volunteer firedepartments’ ratings from class 10 to class 8 could save homeownersover $4.3 million a year in fire insurance premiums, county fireofficials told supervisors Monday.

“Obviously, we think that is important,” said Jim Craig, Heuck’sRetreat Volunteer Fire Department chief.

The plan presented during Monday’s supervisors meeting includesdetermining station, equipment and manpower needs to lower all thecounty volunteer fire departments to class 8 status. The plan didnot include a cost estimate.

“That’s our next step once the board approves this part ofplan,” said Clifford Galey, Lincoln County fire coordinator.

Fire departments are rated on a scale of 10 to 1, with 10 beingthe lowest and 1 being the highest.

With the exception of the New Sight Volunteer Fire Department,which has a class 9 district, all county departments are rated atclass 10. The Brookhaven Fire Department is rated at class 7.

A department’s rating is one factor used in determininghomeowners’ fire insurance premiums. Another factor is materialused in home construction.

According to a chart shown during Craig’s presentation, a framehome with $55,000 in insurance could save the homeowner $296 a yearin premiums. A masonry home with the same value could save thehomeowner $192 a year.

“It would mean a substantial savings to the people in ourareas,” said Craig, indicating that savings would be more for moreexpensive homes.

District 3 Supervisor Nolan Earl Williamson sounded skeptical.He mentioned improvements to the Bogue Chitto Volunteer FireDepartment that have not resulted in insurance savings.

“In the past, in reality, it hasn’t happened,” Williamsonsaid.

Craig explained that the state ratings bureau must make a formalclassification for insurance premiums to be affected. He said NewSight residents, whose department has been though the classratings, are seeing results of the lower rating in that area.

Supervisors took the fire department proposal under advisementto allow board attorney Bob Allen time to review it further. Oncethe plan is approved, Galey said it will be available forpresentation to civic groups and other community organizations.

VOTING PRECINCT

In other action Monday, citizen J.C. White voiced concerns aboutDistrict 2 Supervisor Bobby J. Watts’ plan to move the LittleBahalia voting house off his property to another location. Whitesaid the voting house had been in its current location onIndependence Road since 1982.

“Where it’s at now, it’s pretty well centrally located foreveryone to come to,” said White, who also said voting locationscould not be moved with U.S. Justice Department approval.

Allen said the department does not approve voting locations andcannot tell the county where to put one. He said the departmentconsiders potential violations to one-man, one-vote guidelines andminority voting strength concerns.

Justice department pre-clearance means its has no objections toa county redistricting plan. Citizens may file a lawsuit tochallenge the plan in court.

Allen said Watts was not in violation of any laws.

“He can move it anywhere he wants to,” Allen said.

Watts said the current location is high off the ground, makingit difficult for elderly voters to enter, and there is no parkingspace at the place. He said Bahalia Baptist Church members hadgiven him 100 percent permission to put the voting house at thechurch, which is also Independence Road.

“It’s level, and it’s mostly black top so the elderly won’t gettripped up,” Watts said.