Residents bring fire ratings, other concerns to Dougherty County Commission

ALBANY — Residents from the unincorporated portion of Dougherty County brought concerns before the County Commission at that board’s business meeting Monday, asking commissioners to help them with neighborhood issues.

Agnes Barthel, who lives on Vanderbilt Drive, and Barbara Dawson, who spoke on behalf of a number of residents from the Southgate Subdivision, asked commissioners for help with problems related to fire rating, speeding and blighted properties.

“My insurance agent was so confident that (a hose-lay plan proposed by the Albany Fire Department) would lower my ISO rating, he went ahead and gave me a lower rating on my insurance,” Barthel said. “But because it’s taken so long for the fire department to put the plan in place, my insurance just went up to a 9 (which means higher insurance costs). I was told it had to remain there until new ISO ratings are announced.

“My question to you is how long will it be before we get the new ISO ratings?”

County Administrator Richard Crowdis said he’d had a conversation with Fire Chief Ron Rowe that morning before the meeting.

“Chief Rowe said that, within six months, the fire department will work with a consultant who will help the department prepare for the next ISO rating,” Crowdis said. “Once they are prepared, the consultant will have ISO come in and do an assessment.

“We have a 2 rating right now, which is excellent, but we hope to achieve a 1 rating. Whatever rating we get, the hose-lay will be part of the evaluation.”

District 5 Commissioner Harry James, who represents the area where Barthel resides, said others living outside the Albany city limits share her concern.

“I just renewed my homeowner’s insurance, so I feel Ms. Barthel’s pain,” James said. “This is an issue throughout the unincorporated part of Dougherty County. ISO ratings are important for us, and six months is a long time to wait. I’d like to encourage (the fire department) to move forward with this as quickly as possible.”

Dawson said residents in the Southgate Subdivision are concerned about speeding vehicles, blighted property and the upkeep of residences in the area near their homes. They asked the board to consider making the junction of Astoria Drive and Spelman Drive a four-way stop.

“As your representative, I am well aware of the labor you folks have put into that area to enhance its appearance,” District 2 Commissioner John Hayes, who as vice chairman served as chair in Chairman Chris Cohilas’ absence, told Dawson. “These items that you’ve brought before us will be given due consideration.”

In other action during the meeting, the board approved a resolution declaring outdated cellphones as surplus and authorized their sale, and agreed unanimously to OK a resolution providing for an intergovernmental rental agreement with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for space at the Riverfront Resource Center.