By John Howell Sr.

Batesville city officials are waiting on a decision from the Panola County Board of Supervisors about funds to purchase a fire truck dedicated to responding to fires outside city limits.

The city in January requested approximately $270,000 in county funds to be used for the purchase of one of two new trucks that the Mississippi State Ratings Bureau will require for the Batesville Fire Department this year if the city is to keep its Class Six fire insurance rating and continues to respond to calls outside city limits. Only one new truck will be required if the Batesville Fire Department quits responding to calls outside city limits, Fire Chief Tim Taylor told the mayor and aldermen in January.

“We need to be making a move this summer,” Taylor told the mayor and aldermen during the March 20 meeting.

Discussion of situations that could arise if the city adopted a policy prohibiting its fire department from leaving city limits consumed some minutes of the meeting.

“The outside-of-the-city public needs to know this way before we even make a decision,” Alderman Stan Harrison said.

“They need to talk to their county supervisor,” Mayor Jerry Autrey said. “We like to work with the county and get along, but we don’t have enough money to buy two fire trucks,” he added.

“We’re supplying the manpower and all that to do it,” Harrison said.