Commission questions fire chief on ISO progress, junior firefighter program
By Charlene Sims, Journal staff
MOUND CITY – At the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 2, commission Chair Alison Hamilton asked Fire Chief Shaun Tuggle about the progress on the ISO corrections and about the junior firefighter program in Linn County.
The ISO rating is issued by the Insurance Services Office following period inspections of fire department. A rate of 1 is best, a rating of 10 means the department does not meet standards. Linn County's ISO rating fell from a 5 to a 6 last year, mainly because of concerns about lack of training.
Hamilton pointed out that in April 2026 the county had received three KORA requests from Tom Kemper about the ISO rating in Linn County. She told Tuggle that Kemper had several concerns about the ISO and she wanted to have a conversation about that with Tuggle.
She asked Tuggle if he had had a chance to look at the summary reports and wondered if anything was being done about the corrections that are due next month in December.
Tuggle said that he had talked to Rebecca Hetherington with the ISO and had told her of his concerns about him just getting into the position. He said that Hetherington brought him up to date on the report.
Tuggle said that the ISO had deemed it necessary for her to turn over Linn County’s concerns to management and that is who he needs to talk with directly about how to proceed.
“I told her that I would like an extension because, again, new to the position, and so she brought that to them,” said Tuggle. “They’re supposed to be getting back to me, which they have not yet. But I can definitely reach out and talk to them about it.”
Hamilton said she had the summary report and the survey date was Aug. 25, 2025. She said if she was remembering correctly she thought the county had until this December to make corrections.
“I do not know the answer to that,” said Tuggle.
Hamilton said she would like to know by next week the extension date – and if it was granted.
“If it is, we need to know what that is, and then what are we going to be doing,” said Hamilton. “And I don’t know if you’ve seen this. I don’t know if you’ve seen the KORA requests. I can give you all of my documentation. He made a lot of notes on the things that we had added, the second dispatcher, the water department 13, dry hydrants, all these things that he said were not accurate. So, I’d like for you to review it.”
Tuggle said he had the manager’s email and phone number both and he said that he had sent in some updated training records.
“The qualifications for the ISO is going to change anyway, right?” Commissioner Jim Johnson asked Tuggle “If it hasn’t changed already as far as distance.”
“From what I understand, it won’t change until when our expiration date is up,” said Tuggle.
“But it’s going to change, and it’s going to be hard to fulfill,” said Johnson. “That’s what I was told from ISO. Multiple places throughout the state that it’s going to be hard to keep the ratings.”
Toggle said from what he understands, the ratings are harder to come by.
“In rural areas,” said Johnson.
Hamilton asked that Tuggle bring more information next week and went on to her next question about the junior firefighter program.
Hamilton said she was just checking to see if it was still going or not. She indicated she wasn’t concerned if it was still on or had been dropped when former Fire Chief Randy Hegwald left.
Tuggle indicated that he didn’t know anything about a junior firefighter program.
Johnson said Hegwald was using kids in school. He said it gave students opportunities to become junior firefighters. They couldn’t drive the vehicles or fight the fires, but they could be involved.
Hamilton said she would send Tuggle the information so he could look into it.
Commissioner Hamilton and Johnson then went into executive session with Tuggle, and County Clerk Chasity Ware, for 20 minutes for non-elected personnel. Commissioner Jason Hightower was absent from the meeting
Johnson asked, “Should we take the attorney (Jacklyn Paletta) also?”
“That’s fine if she wants to jump in,” said Hamilton.
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