Posted: 5/10/05
County insurance contributions averaging $65,000
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County commissioners expressed their support of the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) at the May 2 county board meeting.
The county paid an average annual premium of $65,132 over the past five years to MCIT. This is based on contributions from the county minus dividends that the trust has paid to the county.
The trust, which is based in St. Paul, provides property, workers compensation, automobile, and liability insurance for the county.
ìItís about everything that Houston County can get sued on,î executive director Robyn Sykes said.
Sykes and account executive Bob Goede said their company is now putting more of an emphasis on risk management such as back injury prevention and wellness initiatives. Their staff can respond to unique requests, she said. The previous week they had a crew in a horse arena talking to sheriff posse members about how workers compensation applies to them.
Goede also went over a 28 page report that highlighted the companyís achievements and goals.
Commissioner Ann Thompson said she was impressed with the fact that no county has left MCIT in its 25 year history.
Commissioner Larry Graf, who is on the MCIT board, said the trust provides direct savings to the county. ìItís really quite impressive if you really look at the history,î he said.
SELCO contract approved
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a two-year contract with Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO).
Funding for 2006 for Houston County libraries was set at $95,506, with a three percent increase in 2007 to $98,371.
Last yearís contract was for $73,000. The estimated cost to provide services in the county in 2003 was $107,522.
Commissioner Thompson, who along with commissioner Tom Bjerke negotiated the contract, said Houston County had lagged behind in the past. ìWe felt we were kind of a middle ground,î she said of the new contract, which was one of four options that SELCO executive director Ann Hutton presented.
Thompson said that library usage would be increasing, especially with new libraries in Spring Grove and Houston. Other county libraries are located in Caledonia, Hokah, and La Crescent.
Having a two-year contract might provide a chance to work out a contract with Winona County., Thompson added. Commissioners would like to see Houston County reimbursed by Winona County because many of their residents use the La Crescent library. Fillmore County is looking for a similar contract with Houston County, because some Houston County residents west of Houston use the Rushford library.
Bjerke said that the libraries are happy with this contract.
Other business
ï The board also passed two resolutions related to the replacement of a bridge on County Road 249 west of Little Miami restaurant. One approved a transfer of a county owned parcel to Terry and Debra Utke. The other motion accepted the right of way for the project.
ï The board also passed a resolution that the governor and legislators support of a 10-cent gas tax and $100 million in trunk highway bonding. Several commissioners commented on the need for more money to improve county roads. Itís a complaint that commissioners make on almost a monthly basis.
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