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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Maplesville has received its new ISO classification and maintained a five.

ISO classification is used by some insurance companies to determine rates for home owners insurance.

The classification process looks at a number of aspects of the local fire department and makes recommendations. Response time, personnel training, equipment and fire hydrants are just a few aspects of the review.

Maplesville Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said five was a good classification.

The Maplesville Fire Volunteer Department received one recommendation about fire hydrant testing.

“They have a company that does a test on the fire hoses every year … but we were not performing a yearly test on the fire hydrants,” Smitherman said.

Moving forward with this yearly test was approved by the Maplesville Town Council during the June 14 meeting.

The hydrant test will be completed by the same company that does the hose tests.

The council also approved the purchase of 10 sets of turnout gear for new members of the fire department. The department will be paying for the gear, and it is expected to cost $24,700.

Evan Smitherman was approved as a new member at the meeting.

The Maplesville Police Department also received approval for a number of requests. Approval was unanimous. Council member Patty Crocker was absent.

Assistant Chief Josh Hubbard has resigned, so the council approved the creation of a second sergeant position, rather than appointing a new assistant chief. The sergeant pay rate was increased to $19.50 an hour for both the new and existing position. Applications are being accepted.

A pay increase of $1 per shift more for police officers that work the 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. shift, and the emergency hire of David Galutza as a police officer were also approved.

“The FOP (Fraternal of Police) will be providing new vest for full-time officers,” Smitherman said.

A one-time donation of $1,000 was approved for the Chilton County Humane Society.