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Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed shared exciting news with council members Monday regarding a recent ISO rating the Jemison Fire Department received.

“The city got some mighty fine news today,” Reed told the council. “Our ISO rating has moved from a 6.4 rating to a 4.”

ISO’s Public Protection Classification Program (PPC) plays an important role in the underwriting process at insurance companies.

Reed credited Jemison Fire Chief John Dennis for the work he has done to lower the ISO rating.

“I wish he could be here tonight to share the good news, but I wanted to let the council know that we found out at about 1 p.m. today. Chief Dennis has worked really hard on this. You can’t help but feel good about it. This is the lowest rating it has ever been in the city of Jemison.”

Councilman George Brasher said he recalled a time roughly 25 years ago when the ISO rating went from an 8 to a 6.

“It takes time, but when you have the right people working on it, it will improve,” Brasher said.

According to the ISO report, ISO is the leading supplier of data and analytics for the property/casualty insurance industry.

Most insurers use PPC classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

The new rating could save property owners money on their insurance.

In other news, the council voted to allow a Jemison Cub Scout group and a Jemison Girl Scout group to use the old city hall building, which sits adjacent to the Jemison Municipal Complex.

Reed told the council the groups would use the building for one day a week.

Brasher said if a potential renter for the building were to show interest, the council would work to find a new location for the scout groups.

The council also approved a $1,500 donation to Partners Enhancing Education in Chilton County (P.E.E.C.H).

Jemison earmarks a sum of money in its budget every year for P.E.E.C.H. donations, which the Chilton Education Foundation uses to provide grants for teachers.

“We do this every year,” Reed said. “This is already in the budget.”

The council also met in a brief executive session to discuss potential litigation. There was no action taken after the executive session that lasted no more than 10 minutes.