Inflation and concerns by insurers about possible increased liability expenses helped lead to a double digit increase in the county’s property and liability insurance premium.
The Williams County commissioners met Thursday with Russ Davies of CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority) for an update on the coverage, which is due for renewal in a couple of weeks.
“It’s about an 11% increase from where we were the prior year,” Davies told the commissioners.
He said one factor includes a 9% increase in county property due to inflation, though that is a smaller increase than has been seen in the last couple of years.
“I think we’re through the 8% to 10% we experienced in the last couple of years, and for the first couple of months of 2024 it looks like it’s around 2%,” Davies said.
He also said the county’s fleet of vehicles is adding to the cost, with 12 more vehicles this year compared to last. He added the cost of repairing vehicles is up about 12% compared to 24% in recent years.
Ways to control the insurance premium increases included raising the county’s deductible or lessening the amount of umbrella coverage. No changes were made, however, as it was determined the deductible would have to be greatly increased to make any real change, and commissioners did not want to reduce the umbrella coverage.
“Based on the state of people, it’s not a high recommendation from myself to lower that (umbrella coverage),” Davies said.
He cited for example the increased erosion of sovereign immunity for governments, which usually protects them and their employees from civil actions if damage is done during the regular conduct of business. He specifically mentioned claims involving law enforcement, vehicle accidents and nursing facilities.
“Those claims are getting more and more expensive to handle,” Davies said.
Commissioner Lewis Hilkert asked if Davies still felt the county was doing well with cybersecurity and the answer was the county’s IT department has done very well.
“You’ve implemented the controls that are possible to prevent those situations,” Davies said.
Commissioner Terry Rummel asked if CORSA would be able to bring in some forensic specialists to test the county system and Davies said he would check.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Opened two bids for asphalt paving. The project estimate was $526,747 and the bids were $428,415.80 from Gerken Paving and Asphalt of Napoleon and $522,401 from Helms and Sons Excavating of Findlay. The commissioners will award the project at a later date.
- Approved a price quote of $6,900 for painting the remainder of the courthouse fourth floor.
- Approved the purchase of a trailer for the engineer’s office in the amount of $13,869.
- Approved $3,770 for purchase of a computer for the IT department.
- Approved $30,000 to cover foster care expenses for Williams County Job and Family Services.
- Approved an agreement to allow the villages of Edgerton, Montpelier and West Unity to use the GIS system through the engineer’s office for a fee of $550 per year for each one, plus $120 per year for 1,000 credits. There is no end date on the agreement.
- Awarded a paving project on county roads 12C and D to Gerken Paving and Asphalt of Napoleon, which was the lone bidder.
