Millersburg fire district hikes property tax rate

The Millersburg Fire Protection District board of directors Monday night imposed a .65 cent increase in the district's tax rate levy.

Without discussion, the board approved President Bruce Dixon's motion to accept a county budget office recommendation for a .4623 cents tax levy for each $100 assessed valuation.

The change represents a .65 cent increase over last year's levy of .04558 cents.

In other action, Fire Chief Larry Curtis informed the board he has reached a verbal agreement for installation of a new dry hydrant at a pond in the south end of the district. "I hope to get it installed next week when the pond owner is available," Curtis said.

When a dry hydrant is installed at a pond, a district fire pumper truck can attach a hose to the hydrant and pump filtered water from the pond to the tanker truck. The pond water is used as a quick source of water when fighting fires in an area where water district hydrants are not available or to supplement water pumped from water district hydrants by other trucks.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.