A recent audit by the Insurance Services Office, a private risk-analysis firm, has improved the city of Fredonia’s fire rating and should translate into savings on homeowners’ insurance premiums next year.

Members of the Caldwell County Fiscal Court discussed Tuesday a report from Fredonia Fire Chief Greg Beck regarding the city’s new classification.

That classification dropped from a 9-10 rating to a rating of 7-9, he said. Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best possible rating.

“What this will mean for insured property owners in the coverage area of the Fredonia Fire Department is a cost savings on their homeowners’ insurance premium,” he said.

The new classification will take effect on Jan. 1. Property owners should check with their insurance agents at that time to make sure the new classification is applied to their policies.

The audit, Beck said, was based on a point system used by the ISO in which the city was rated on its fire department, water department and area water supply.

“Based on the results of the audit, each department has some areas to improve on to achieve a better classification,” he said.

Beck thanked the volunteer firefighters on the department and the city employees who worked to achieve the new classification.

The chief also thanked the fiscal court for its financial support and donated equipment.

The fiscal court voted Tuesday to transfer a rescue truck previously used by the Princeton Fire/Rescue Department to the Fredonia Fire Department.

The pickup is no longer needed in Princeton, fire officials said, because of the department’s new heavy rescue truck, which was delivered last month.

The cost of that truck is being split between the city and the county.

Magistrates postponed second reading of an ordinance amending the county budget to include their portion of the truck’s cost, $109,982, since paperwork had not been returned by the state.

Second reading of the ordinance is expected at the court’s next meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22.

The county’s share will be paid for by funds borrowed from the Kentucky Association of Counties, Judge/Executive Van Knight said Tuesday.

Magistrates approved a resolution presented by County Attorney Bridgie Miller detailing the funding arrangement.

In other business:

• Knight opened the sole bid received for new voting machines that will comply with the Help America Vote Act.

The act, designed to make voting easier and more accessible for individuals with disabilities, required new voting machines in each precinct.

The winning bidder, Harp Enterprises, bid $89,265 for those machines.

The county will be reimbursed approximately $82,000 from the state, Knight said.

Magistrates voted to accept the bid if approved by County Clerk Toni Watson.

• A jail inspection held about two weeks ago found no items of noncompliance aside from the jail’s overcrowding, Knight said.

• The county received a plaque from the Pennyrile RC&D Council for its contribution to a recent Take Kids Fishing event.

Dr. Duane Miksch was also recognized for his efforts, Knight said.

The awards were presented at an RC&D banquet last week.