Mayor Bill Lusk of the town of Signal Mountain said Friday, “Our Town Council has worked diligently for the last eight years to achieve certain goals, and I’m pleased to announce that we have realized significant milestones.”
"1. We saved over $1 million dollars in interest by resolutely paying down the $7.3 million dollar loan to help fund the new middle/high school. The loan is on track now to be retired in 2016 rather than 2026.
"2. Moody’s Investment Service recently awarded the town a bond rating of AA3." He said the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund commented that “Out of the more than 25 cities and counties we have worked with, only two other cities have obtained a rating in the double A category.” This rating reduces current borrowing costs as well as costs for any future borrowing.
"3. After a recent evaluation of the town’s fire protection services, the Signal Mountain Fire Department achieved an ISO rating of 3 out of 10, with a 1 being the best. As this rating is a significant improvement over the previous rating of 5, many residents could see a drop in their fire protection insurance premiums.
"4. And, finally, these are just some of the reasons why Bloomberg Business Week rated Signal Mountain one of the best places in the nation to raise a family, and Movoto designated Signal Mountain as the Number One place to live in Tennessee."
Mayor Lusk said, "The Town Council of Signal Mountain, its employees, and all the volunteers who serve on its boards and committees deserve recognition for the many contributions that have made these achievements and the quality of life we enjoy a reality today and into the future."