County approves insurance proposal
Marion County Commission reviewed and approved an insurance proposal from the county's insurance advisory board.
The total premium amount for 2004 is $123,891, $1,000 less than last year's. The insurance policy will be through the Insurance Center, Hillsboro and EMC Insurance Companies.
Advisory board members are Richard Nickel, The Insurance Center, Hillsboro; John Balthrop, Peabody; and Alex Case, Case and Son Insurance, Marion.
Board members said that much thought and time were put in to the review of the county's policies and the recommendations.
Changes in the insurance business has necessitated a complete review of the policies.
Nickel said that the proposal increases the county's liability position from $500,000 per incident to $1,000,000. This would provide $2,000,000 in total coverage. The state requires a minimum of $500,000 coverage.
Property damage deductible would increase from $500 per incident to $1,000.
"This change alone will save the county $35,000 in premiums," said Nickel.
Auto collision deductibles will go from $250 and $500 to $1,000. It was recommended that all vehicles that are 10 years old and older, (the county has 25,) be self-insured, saving the county $8,000 in premiums.
"We tried to find ways to save the county money," said Balthrop. "We're taxpayers, too."
The downside is the replacement of the vehicles, due to accidents and vandalism.
County clerk Carol Maggard reminded the commission that each department pays its own premiums from individual budgets.
"Department budgets won't be able to absorb replacement expense," said Maggard, "should vehicles be replaced due to losses."
Case said that they looked at other options to save money.
"We couldn't justify other deductions," said Case.
In other business:
— Leroy Wetta was appointed as chairman of the commission for 2004. Bob Hein will serve as vice chairman.
— Sheriff Lee Becker reported to the commission that United States Department of Agriculture removed the exotic animals Friday from 140th and Timber. If use ceases for six months, said Becker, the animals' owner will need a conditional use permit.
— Becker said the attorney's general office has requested information regarding a lightning rod scam. Individuals have sold lightning rods for $1,000 to $2,000 to residents in the Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody areas.
The salespeople are violating the 72-hour law for contracts, enabling an individual to void the contract within 72 hours of signing it.
— Dues for 2004 membership to the Kansas Association of Counties will be $2,447. The dues are based on population and valuation.
— Maggard asked commissioners to consider an administration fee for employees with income withholding or wage garnishments.
Currently there are three employees who have income withholding from their monthly paychecks and six have wage garnishments.
By law, Maggard said that the county could charge up to $5 each for the income withholding and up to $10 each for the wage garnishment.
"It does take time to do this," said Maggard.
Wetta said it didn't seem fair to charge the employee. Commissioners will review and make a decision at a later date.
— Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, presented a document and the commission signed it to start a bridge project. The bridge replacement will be northwest of Durham and will cost $283,056. It is in the 2004 budget.
Kelsey reported that an equipment operator had resigned. The position will be advertised and filled.
— Hoch Publishing, Inc./Marion County Record was chosen as the official county newspaper for 2004.
— All Marion County banks, qualified by law, were designated as official county financial institutions for 2004.
The commission will not meet Monday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 26 in the courthouse.
