Leopold Fire Department petitions to become a fire district

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- In an effort to increase revenue to serve the community better, the Leopold Fire Department has petitioned to become a fire-protection district.

Voters will decide whether to create the district in the April 5 election.

Alan Beussink, lawyer for the fire department, said once the district is formed, it will be tax-supported.

Currently, about 300 residents pay a yearly fee of $40 for fire protection, bringing from $10,000 to $14,000 a year, according to fire chief Chris Brown.

A property tax for the fire district would be levied at 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation and would bring in about $34,000, Beussink said.

"This would allow them to make improvements and give better service to the people," he said.

In Bollinger County, only Leopold's and Marble Hill's fire departments are not taxing districts. Marble Hill's fire department is part of the city's budget.

Brown said with increased income, the Leopold Fire Department would be in a position to upgrade its equipment and meet International Organization for Standardization rules for improving the town's fire rating.

Improving Leopold's ISO rating means homeowners would benefit from lower insurance rates.

Brown said Leopold's rating is 8 or 9. In comparison, Marble Hill's rating is a 5 because it can upgrade and improve its equipment regularly.

"I have a goal in mind," Brown said. "With the funding we have now, we can't upgrade the equipment the way I would like to help the community out."

Brown said Leopold has 14 active volunteer firefighters.

"I have a bunch of good guys, young guys coming on," he said.

The proposed fire district extends east of Highway 51 bordering the Zalma Fire District south at Highway 91 to the Stoddard County line. It goes west to the Cape Girardeau County line and zig-zags on the north side.

"It will be the smallest fire district in Bollinger County," Brown said, "but it will be big for us."