A plan is in the works to lower home fire protection ratings in the eastern portion of Tate County.
Supervisors discussed the idea of adding satellite fire stations in a pair of rural sections of the county at their recessed meeting Monday, July 21. The plan entails placing a pumper truck at the District 5 maintenance shop on Sycamore Road and another in the Tyro community.
“When we get this done, those areas will immediately drop from being non-rated to possibly a Class 8 fire rating and lead to huge savings on home insurance,” said Neal Copeland, assistant county fire coordinator.
Copeland said adding a pumper truck at the District 5 shop would provide fire rating coverage for residences on every road in the northwestern part of that district currently not protected by Independence Volunteer Fire Department. Independence has a new pumper on order and the existing one would be placed at the shop, he explained.
Adding a pumper acquired from the City of Senatobia several months ago in Tyro presents more of a challenge, according to Copeland.
“We had planned to place it at the Tyro voting precinct building on Looxahoma-Tyro Road but that would leave some residences near Looxahoma uncovered,” Copeland explained. “A pumper would need to be located about a mile and a half west of the Tyro voting precinct building.”
County Administrator Cole Massie suggested putting together specs for construction of a building to house the pumper in that area and presenting them at the next meeting. Supervisors agreed to table the discussion until Monday, Aug. 4.
In Other Business:
Supervisors approved the following on the consent agenda:
• Spread the monthly road department update on the minutes.
• Travel including registration, mileage, and meals if necessary for Tate County E911 Dispatcher Harry Hood to attend Never Secure & Always Ready training in Hernando, Aug. 6.
• Travel including registration, mileage, meals, and lodging if necessary for
Tate County E911 Dispatchers Lora Rowe and Anna Perkins to attend 2025
Mississippi 911 Coordinators Conference in Biloxi Aug. 11-14.
• Spread on the minutes a copy of the fully executed agreement for Solid Waste convenience center between Tate County and Prime Manufacturing Services.
• Spread on the minutes the FY 2024 continuing disclosure submission.
• Travel including registration, mileage, meals, and lodging if necessary for
board of supervisors, county administrator and chancery clerk to attend 2025 Fall
ATVG Meeting in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Oct. 21-24.
• Travel including registration, mileage, meals, and lodging if necessary for Major Matt Wilson from Tate County Sheriff’s Office to attend 2025 MASIT Law Enforcement Risk Management Conference in Flowood, Aug. 11-14.
