(Dawson County, GA) Effective April 1, 2010 many Dawson County residents and businesses may see rates lowered on home and business insurance premiums. A recent evaluation by representatives from Insurance Services Office (ISO) resulted in an insurance public protection classification (PPC) change. “Dawson County will have a PPC split classification 5/10 while the City of Dawsonville will have a 3/10 split classification,” said Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond. “These new ratings mean if you live within five road miles of one of eight Dawson County Fire Stations, depending on whether you are a city or county resident, you should receive the new lower classifications at your next homeowner insurance renewal after April 1,” Thurmond said. “This latest evaluation puts approximately 92% of the residents of the county and city into one of the lower PPC classifications. Only 12.4% of the nation has a PPC 5 rating, while only 2.5% have a PPC 3 rating,” said Thurmond. In 2008 Dawson County received notification that the county and city’s PPC would drop from the 7/9/10 classification it had held since 1988 to a new 6/10 county split classification and a new 4/10 classification for the City of Dawsonville effective August 1, 2008. Dawson County then had the option to make improvements within 12 months based on ISO feedback and request a re-evaluation. Using SPLOST IV funding, Dawson County purchased four new pumper/tenders and, with impact fee funding, two service trucks increasing the fire department fleet. Impact fees also provided the construction of a burn tower at the Station #7 training center. A liquid fire pit simulator and vehicle fire simulator were added to enhance training capabilities at the center. “The improvements made by the county over the past 12 months have again paid off with a lower ISO rating for the county and city,” Thurmond said. “I would like to thank the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, County Manager Tanner and department staffs, City of Dawsonville, Emergency Services staff and the citizens of Dawson County for their support of this project,” said Thurmond. Dawson County Emergency Services is committed to the preservation of the lives and property of the citizens of Dawson County.