Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope announced that the town was successful in getting its fire rating dropped from an eight to a seven, that should translate into savings for Bruce residents.
"I checked on mine and I saved almost $300 a year on my insurance," Alderman Danny Rodgers said.
"I'll save $250 on mine," Alderman Steve Nelson said.
"Everyone in the city should make sure they're getting their savings as a result of this improvement," Mayor Pope said. "We worked hard to get this."
Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope
Mayor Pope said the possibility exists for the town to make more improvements and drop the rating down to a six.
"We're going to work for it," he said. "I'm excited about this and if we can help everyone in Bruce save $250-300 a year on their insurance, that's a great thing," Mayor Pope said.
In other news, the board appointed public works employee Robert Mata to street department director and raised his pay 30% to $32,000 for the new position, opposite water department director Cody Liles.
Alderman Rodgers said he was "very pleased" with Mata and the appointment, but thought the pay increase should be gradual as he completes each of the required certifications - CDL, water, and wastewater.
Alderwoman Ellen Shaw said she didn't view it as a raise, but as a change of jobs. Aldermen Johnny Armstrong and John Earl Armstrong agreed.
"It is a different job, but still a big jump to give an $8,000 raise in one chunk while he's still working on certifications," Rodgers said.
The board also continued its discussion on renaming a pair of town streets after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the request of Alderman Johnny Armstrong.
Alderman Rodgers said he supported the effort, but suggested South McSweyne might be better than the proposed combination of Cook Avenue and South Murphree Street because of the location of the elementary school, which was the original black school in Bruce, and the high amount of traffic on the road.
"The reason I chose (Cook and Murphree) is they meet Highway 32 and go all the way through to Hwy 9," Armstrong said.
Mayor Pope said E-911 director Wayne Stone has said it's a difficult process to change all physical addresses on any street. Armstrong noted most residents on those streets have post office boxes, so not as big a factor for mail service.
"We're going to table that for right now, but try to get it done," Mayor Pope said.
Other items approved by board:
•Hired Joshua Hughes as part-time police officer; refunded Bill Ross two years of taxes in the amount of $341 because he's beyond tax exempt age; closed small portion of alley behind Dollar General to assist with Calhoun Banking Center construction.