Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all can I get a motion to approve today's agenda gentlemen I shall make a motion to approve

I'll second that.

Okay, call for a vote.

Tippett, aye.

Seaman, aye.

Bowes, aye.

Perfect. How about the minutes? Two sets.

I'll make motion to approve the minutes. I'll second.

Okay, call for a vote.

Tippett, aye. Seaman, aye.

Bowes, aye. Perfect. Discuss and approve tax suspension on parcel 270-21-700. Haley, what can you tell us?

So as you recall a few weeks ago, we sent that certified letter to HHS of the tax suspensions. We get notice usually from Melinda, those that come to us and ask for it. We have to verify that they qualify. So in your packet, don't mention the name, but the parcel number and the qualify, and so... I'm asking you to amend that letter and we'll add that that parcel can be suspended. So what that does is usually we don't abate the taxes, we just suspend them. So like years down the line if they pass away or sell the residence, they have to bring it back to current. They have to pay us back.

I would make a motion to suspend the taxes on parcel number 270. in the amount of... No, we don't do that because it's every year. Okay.

Okay. I'll second that. All for a vote. Tippett, aye. Seaman, aye. Votes, aye. Nothing to sign on it, right?

Just that letterhead. There's a letterhead with the supervisors that I missed out all those.

I already did.

So I added that one to the bottom.

That one's added to it.

I'll call this gentleman later and let him know.

Okay. Sheriff, we're close enough.

Here just for the hiring part-time Ryan Harris. It's not a new position, it'd be replacing the part-time Jeff Harnish position. And with Stallman going part-time, we'll need another fill-in to help fill in at the courthouse and here. So he'll start May 27th at 29... May 26th.

May 26th. 29, 17.

Yeah, 29, 17.

Starting deputy wage.

Starting deputy wage. And Ryan, he's a retired state trooper. Used to work with him on the road. Good guy.

Okay. I would make the motion to hire Ryan Harris as part-time utility deputy.

I'll second that.

Call for a vote.

Check it. Aye.

Seaman, aye.

All right.

Thank you. How about reports? You've got five minutes.

It's going to be quick. I didn't have any meetings last week. It's all you.

I had EMS last night.

Was it a special one?

No. They just had it earlier because Memorial weekend next Monday. So.

Yeah.

But it was not, we just, we had five to do business. So it was a quick meeting. One of the deals is, I will talk, I guess maybe after the meeting, get everybody's opinion is the, safety stuff for Duane Arnold, where we're going to be the dispatcher of all the... You're talking EMA stuff, not EMS. Yeah, EMA. EMA, yep, yep. Anyway, it's dumped on us. Where are we going to find a building to put it in? It's got to be heated.

You're still sticking with it being us? I mean, I know they talk about asking us, but.

I mean, we're here in one county.

Like how much stuff is it? We don't have.

They want quite a bit.

How many things still here?

Because I said about the size of a two-stall garage.

Oh.

You know, and then if they said you're going to do it that much, then it should be big enough to hold the pickup even.

Are they interested in entertaining people

building something yes and no as long as we pay for it i'm out of that idea we'll supply we'll supply the ground if they want to pay to build it i know and i guess i was kind of leaning maybe going arnold's got deep pockets maybe they They probably might.

So the weed commissioner area over there, do they use auto light?

That's what they're interested in.

You're going to say that one's going to have...

Yes. Let's see, that's heated. It's ready to go. The only problem is then we're going to... What are we going to do with the weed department? Are we going to kick them out to Rogers? Or... So I don't know. I mean, these are some questions that's going to have to be answered here in the next month, month and a half. You know what I mean?

Well, we should get a hold of Dean, and maybe he already has contacted Duane Arnold and see if they're interested in funding the project.

Yeah. Well, the other place, you know, that he was telling me, last night, or somebody was anyway, that I was thinking the building across where the maintenance garage is, they said that's got lines underneath it for the sheriff's office for the heating and cooling.

You're talking about over in that parking lot area? Yes. The fenced in?

No, no, no, no. That's where the pipes are. There.

Yeah.

But I'm talking about the maintenance for the sheriff's or secondary...

The mowers and stuff? Yes.

Yes. They do have two. There's lines over there, they told me. Well, I know there's forced air heat in there.

It's shut off in the part the sheriff has, but the other part, it's heated.

So that's some of the problems, you know, where you're going to do it. And I can agree, it should be... Close. Yeah, close to where their office is. You know what I mean?

So are they willing to reimburse us for, or is it part of the grant that you don't know? I mean, if it's their equipment and we're going to have to have liability insurance on it, then we think they would want to reimburse us.

Yeah, I don't know. Okay.

We might have to talk, maybe we can ask Judy that, see how that would work out today.

That'd be a good question, right? Because in my opinion, the only thing that we got for bare ground around here is either secondary roads. And I'm kind of against that because them gates are shut 5 o'clock at night. Weekends are shut. You know what I mean? They can't get in there in case of emergency. So that, to me, leaves the garden. And I'm sure they don't want to give up anything in the garden out here.

Unless I don't know that that's a hint.

be heated just for the greenhouse area yeah but I'm talking about for the storage area so we wouldn't necessarily have to house the truck no we wouldn't have to but see here it comes in whenever the rescue unit for the Sheriff's Department when that actually comes should be coming sometime they're gonna get booted So I guess I should have asked the sheriff if they got rid of the second boat yet. Because now is the boat season. Now is the time to get rid of the original John boat that they got. You know, they got the new speed boat. I'm taking up too much time. Derek.

So we got sign 28E from Dubuque County for a new collections contract. And yeah, I don't think anything's really changed since the last one. And we still have the 50-50 split. And Dubuque has been a very good source of our collections revenue. So I will be passing out our signature from a Dubuque chairman, and we just need years there's a resolution but he's always three years in the past yeah I believe so okay because I usually there's a clause in here and I don't usually break does to them to break does these ones usually if like yeah they automatically you know for a period of one year to so it's even a little safety net in there as well copy that they, the official copy they sent. And I do have another copy if you guys want to read it. It's worth having it with you.

I'll file that again with the Secretary of State.

Yeah, and then

I have my notary stamp too.

I was hoping we could get some better terms on that upfront number.

Which one? uh before we get into the better split on there oh see that see that sucks because by statute they already have that set out based on county population so we're kind of stuck with that that was the only number i didn't like i know but i think this past year they hit that number within two months well that makes it quite a bit better yeah that they're collecting at that rate. I believe it's two months if I remember the table I sent out. If they're not extinguished in smaller counties, they're tougher to reach the threshold.

Yeah. Well, being that's part of state code, I guess I can't object to it too much. I would move to approve the resolution 26-43 for collections with Dubuque County.

Okay.

I would second it.

Call for a vote.

Tippett, aye.

Seaman, aye. Bowles, aye.

Okay.

Sorry.

Thanks, Matt. Yep.

So Ted and Lori Burr are seeking approval to change the use of an existing barn on their lot to allow for the addition of living quarters within that barn. This property is located approximately a quarter mile southeast of Belle Plaine at 1266-77. within the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and then also within the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, all within section 28 of Iowa Township. And this proposal concerns a 1.17 acre parcel, which the applicants own. The entire area of this request has a corn stability rating of 85, which is considered high quality farmland. However, the parcel has not been used for agricultural production since the 1930s. There are agricultural row crops, single-family dwellings, along with the city of Belle Plaine to the north and west, agricultural row crops and farmsteads to the east, and agricultural row crops and timberland to the south. Access to the property will be via an existing driveway, which was reviewed and approved by Dan McKenna from Secondary Roads. The property is accessed from 78th Street Trail, a gravel county road with an average annual daily traffic count of 160 vehicles. And the owners do have an easement running back there to access that land. And the dwelling will require a new septic system which will be permitted by the department and where water will be utilized for water supply. Three notification letters were sent out to adjacent property owners and legal notices were published in the official newspapers. The Bend County Land Use Office did not receive any public comments concerning this request. This request is located on parcel of high-quality farmland that has an existing single-family dwelling and has not been used for agricultural production since the 1930s. Therefore, this request is not likely to interfere seriously with farm operations in the area. The surrounding area is primarily agricultural with scattered farmsteads, single-family dwellings, and timberland. In addition, the proposed request will not disrupt the natural character of land as the requested use will occur within existing structures. Therefore, this request should not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern in the area. And according to the Bend County Land Preservation and Use Plan, it's policy to provide limited and low density single family dwellings within the general rural use area upon a fair and equitable evaluation. For the reasons reported, this request has been found to be consistent with this policy and all other applicable policies of the plan.

anything you'd like to add to that only thing I got a question on your easement is that recorded okay

okay okay can I get a motion you look at the motion okay yep okay I'll call for roll tip it I even I

Thanks Matt. Have a good day.

Hey Matt. I have a question. I just want to go back to what Tracy was talking about. Is that a requirement by law that we have to provide that for them? Or is it a nice neighborhood?

Requirement? No. But we have to... Thank God. Not so much Dean Verba, but that we hired, or they hired Scott, our previous manager. He's the one that's bringing all the ordinance and all the, everything that we are supposed to do up to date to nowadays. He's working with Duane Arnold. And of course, they're paying his wages even. But see, and I get it. Duane Arnold wants to have one localized place to store all this, the safety equipment, the masks, the gowns, the rubber gloves. Wants one place and then distribute it from there. They don't want to have Linn County, Buchanan County, us, they don't want to have three places. They want one person to be in there. Scott's been working with them since this all started here a year and a half ago. Well, they just come up with the idea, well, this would be the perfect spot because he's been working with them. So this is how it kind of got. No, we didn't really volunteer to do this, but we were asked.

Well, and I appreciate the fact that they want to put that all in one spot. That makes sense. But that shouldn't become a financial burden on Benton County. So if Dwayne Arnold would want something like that, I agree with you, Tracy. You know, maybe Benton County could provide a piece of ground. But Wayne Arnold needs to put the money in, and it shouldn't be Benton County that puts the cost of that, just because we're being a nice neighbor. At this point in time, with the budget the way it is for Benton County, the nice neighbor stuff probably needs to be looked at twice. I'm not saying completely stopped, but it needs to be looked at twice. And I have a hard time with these big companies that are raking in money hand over fist. you know wanting the county to take care of theirs and disrupting uh people in our county that have offices and and needs that are using those buildings that that's not our problem that's doing arnold's problem and they need to take care of that so if they would want to come to the table you know and say well you know If you've got a space, we want to put it there, we'll put this building up, then I think we should look at it. But, you know, just throwing people out, upsetting the apple cart floor for somebody to break money in hand over fist, I have a problem with that.

No argument here. Yeah. I do understand their point of view. This would be a quick fix to get an office space.

Oh, yeah.

But where are they going to go? That's where I have a problem, all right?

But again, a quick fix for them and a cheap fix for them shouldn't create a problem.

Right, right.

So Dwayne Arnold, the whole Morgan Creek thing, you know, They're becoming a problem for Benton County.

And I guess I look at it, we've got to build a building. I just assume to build it for, you know, what they need.

Right.

You know, as long as we can work with Dwayne Arnold and Lee Wright to check.

And then to also fit some learnings.

and then some somehow than that building after so many years yeah there needs to be that yeah right yeah yeah could it be can we come up with a directive to direct

Scott to get a hold of Dwayne Arnold and see if they're interested? Well, he's been meeting with them, you know what I mean, and this is... Maybe talk with the sheriff and see how much they're needing the entire gated lot across the street?

Now some of this though, you gotta remember though, they got that new EMS pickup. EMA, I'm getting it wrong, EMA. They got the new pickup we bought with FEMA money. Okay, and it's in good shape, low miles and all that, and it's been in the sheriff's building ever since. Now I agree, I don't want to see that pickup sitting out in the weather YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO IF WE GO BACK TO BUILDING A BUILDING, I can see Dwayne Arnold saying, well, wait a minute, your building is big enough to put the pickup in that you own. That ain't our fault. So it's got to be a given.

They need to come up with an equity of what percent is that county going to use.

Yeah, we need to have a give and take.

And is there any other place to put a pickup in Dwayne's county? Yeah. Or, you know.

It's a give and take. If we put one building up, no, I don't expect them to pay the whole works if we're going to park a pickup in there. But like I said, I haven't checked with the Sheriff's Department if they had two boats. They did anyway, because they bought a new jet boat last year, correct, Ellie? Yep. That's for the river rescue. But they still had the old John boat. And of course, when that boat come in, that was in November.

Is he still here?

Yeah. Would you please? And it was November when that boat come in. So you don't sell a boat November, December, January, of course. Now is the time to sell a boat. So I don't know if they dispose of that yet or not.

We are working on that boat. We just got the trailer registered and the boat registered. I don't think they were ever registered from the day they were purchased. So we're going to take the boat out to Doug at Secondary Roads, and he's going to put it on. Okay. Gov deals. But I think you were talking about the storage space over there? Yeah. Scott and Dean and I have been talking. We're gonna try to put together something to present to you guys. Yeah, we'd like to have that whole building if possible. We're gonna need it because there's public health stuff in there that's been dumped in there. And Dwayne Arnold has a lot of stuff they want us to store. So we thought Yeah, there's got to be a place for that other entity. I was thinking North. Yeah, I know. Out at a certain park out there, there's all kinds of room.

Or even secondary roads. I know, I know. It's like I said, it's decisions that we'll have to make here in the next month to two months.

You mean like July 1st, I assume?

Yeah. I believe so. I didn't get a time frame, but it was going to be close. Because we also got that Bearcat coming. Yeah, now.

And I call on them garage doors. Nobody seems to know anything about any garage doors that you ordered.

It's in my name. I know.

I talked to them.

I talked to Atkins Lumber and they said no. No, no, no, no, no.

It's from Olin. Kevin. I called him. He didn't know anything about it either. He said he don't stock anything.

Yeah.

So.

So we've been doing our little homework. Okay. So. Because one of them doors I'm just going to raise up and put another panel on it. You've been saying that. A little busy, buddy. I don't hear you.

Put the crops in, though, right?

Yeah, crops are done. Get enough rain? Yes, perfect.

Is that Bearcat, I think, December now?

Now December, yeah. We just emailed it again.

It was supposed to be like a year.

Now they pushed it back. I just keep explaining things. The DEA got in ahead of us and ordered like 30 of them. That's why it got pushed back, I think. But yeah, that's the plan. Okay.

So what do we have for ground down there? We got the parking lot where the trailer is.

Are you talking about down at the Sheriff's Office?

Yeah, just kind of in the area of the courthouse there.

The other garage where recycling bins are is not heated. It's got gravel floor.

Correct. But see, that's where I was thinking about putting the building at. But see, they told me last night they got pipes in there to heat and cool the Sheriff's Office.

Oh, that's where the... Then would you have to move the recycling bins?

Okay.

I guess. Where the recycling bin is? Yeah.

There's sheriff's office records in there?

No, no, no. There's pipes in the ground for your heating and cooling. Your ground. Your towel, the geome? Yeah. They go clear over to that vacant lot? Yeah.

It was after the flood when we had to.

And see, that's the other drawback is, you know.

Are you talking where the recycling bin is or are gated in?

No, you're gated in is where that's all got pipes in there. In fact, there's a pit there and everything. Right. Okay, and then across the road where the old building is, they told me last night there's pipes over there in the ground there too. Oh, okay. I don't know, but I was told.

That's your assessor and Matt partner.

Yes.

And that pit and that vacant lot should probably be... looked at.

I guarantee it's full of water. Okay. And then the other thing is that... Isn't Gary Benson used to pump that out every so often? What I got against where the recycling bin is or where that other building is, didn't that flood? Oh, yeah. Well, I don't want to build something where we're going to have to put flood insurance on it. That's where the jail's at. Yeah, but you're up in the air. Did the jail flood? Yes. Did we put it back there? You're up in the air now. So, I mean, there's pros and cons about it.

I wouldn't put another building. Where?

Transportation building?

No. No. Aren't they building a new building north? Don't know. Yeah, I thought they were putting a new building up at Rogers.

Sometime. There you go. There's your answer right there. Sometime. Yeah, but that's for... That's like a pavilion. Yeah. Oh. Yeah. Secondary roads, can't absorb them? The only problem then, you've got the gates to be locked at nights and the weekends, and it'd be hard to get entry to them. Like I said, really the best place is right here, the garden. Who owns that? We do. Really? Yeah.

Max Brown, you're talking about putting a building there?

Yeah. A good spot? Basically a three stall garage. Room for the truck and then all the stuff. And if we made it a little bigger, yeah, he could get the health department stuff out of the sheriff's office building and down here closer to them.

Public health or sanitary?

Public. Public. They're right here, wouldn't they? Yeah.

What do you think, 30 by 40? Yeah, that's... Yeah, but to me, he wouldn't have to heat one of the pickup I haven't pushed a pencil or anything. To me, if you foam the walls, you wouldn't have to line them in. Just get it so it's heated. Heat it cheap, put a ceiling in it. It wouldn't cost that much to heat it. Look what it costs to heat this big building right next to us. That's unreal. You're looking at $160 in the wintertime to heat that big building a month. Natural gas.

So are we talking EMA has to put the bill up here?

Well, that's just, where's the money going to come from? I know. There again, like I said, it goes back to Dwayne Arnold. Somebody said they're looking for a building too. Well, they're going to start building in July out there. They haven't put a spade in the ground yet. No, a building, another building is what I was told for storage stuff somewhere. That I don't know. They're gonna start building out there in July.

I think our best bet is to see, have EMA contact Doreen Arnold and see if they're interested in assisting in the cost of this project. And it makes the most sense to put it here somewhere.

Like I said, it'd be nice to be over there by the courthouse, but it's in a floodplain.

We don't want to pay more floods.

Yeah, every March that just moves my butt that we've got to pay that premium for that. Okay. I think we talked to the deaf, so. All right. We'll be in touch. All right. Well, we got 55 minutes to kill, so. We'll take a motion to go into recess.

I will make a motion to go into recess.

I just got a quick question, and then I'll probably get out of your hair. Okay. But I don't know if it's more towards Derek. Last week you guys had a closed-door session. Was that pertaining to the old Board of Health? I mean, I just want a yes or no answer. The details are already out there, but is this one or is this a new one? Do you have a vote of no? No clue. No clue? Okay. I was just curious. I was asking questions, and I had no idea that I'd ask.

No clue.

Okay.

Yeah. No. Okay. We've got a motion for recess. I'll second that. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippett, aye. Seaman, aye. Seaman, aye. Okay.

We have an aye. Back in open session.

I'll make a motion to come out of recess at 10.35.

I'll second the motion.

Comparable.

Tip of the eye.

Team and I. We're here. All right. Mary will be here in just a moment, and she has the information. Okay.

Stop. She does.

I have my copy, but she brought all the copies, so...

How have you been? Good, good. How about you? Not a complaint. Oh, good, good.

Did you get to bring the fun drive back?

No, I haven't done it yet.

Oh, okay. No problem.

No, I usually, I'll probably not until.

We were a little early and then we got it done earlier.

No, that was good. No, so, well, because I'm supposed to have it like by June 30th and then I do them. And I usually present at the October meeting. But yes, I have that. could probably go ahead and go over the portion that I'm talk about when Mary can give the renewal information have her do that so kind of what I've been telling everyone is so as far as the rates your rates for your for the insurance there was a Prior to 2023, the rates hadn't changed for probably over 15 years. There hadn't been a rate study done or anything for that time period. So then in 2023, the Heartland Board, approved a rate study, and that was done by the actuary, and then that rate study, those rates were implemented for the policy year beginning July 1st of 2024. So it's been three years now, and the board is again approved a rate study. So that rate study will be done this year and the actuary will present it in October and then the board will decide if they're gonna implement those rates, what those changes might be. So we'll find out about that in October. And then the other thing that is new, the Heartland Board approved Medcor for work comp claims. And what Medcor is, it's a company that Creative Wrists works with to triage injury management. And so there's a nurse that, once someone has an injury, that they can call in, so we're gonna implement this. And then again, it'll be a county by county basis on how they want to do this. Creativist will give posters for everyone to put up and then there'll be a number to call so if someone has an injury so let's say at one of your secondary roads shops someone has an injury they can call that number right then and report what has happened and then they'll speak with a nurse who will talk to them and say oh well yes, maybe you need to do Advil, ice, heat, whatever, or no, you should go to the urgent care, but don't think the emergency room's necessary, or whatever the situation. Now, if it's somebody who cuts off the tip of their finger or something, we're not calling that number, you're just gonna go get the care. But it will help manage those claims. And when they do call in, they will, MEDCOR will report that injury to Creative Risk. So that'll be done. So you won't have to, but when I've been talking with other counties, they still want to have the injury forms completed. And that's fine. You can still do that so you have record of it. But that way it gets reported to Creative Risk and that alleviates one thing that the insurance coordinators don't have to do. So again, like I said, it'll be a county by county basis on if everyone wants to implement it. Then I've had some counties ask, well, okay, do we make it a policy? What if they follow it? What if they don't follow it? And I think you just have to decide, like, how are we gonna do this? Yeah, so just kinda have to decide how you wanna handle that. And again, and like I've told, Told the other counties that you may You might think oh, this is great. It's working out great or something might come up like oh this really isn't Doesn't fit for us. So it's you know, it's not being mandated by heartland.

It's just July 1st.

Yeah, July 1st And so I have a call scheduled with Creative Risk, with the client service person there, Kat, and she will, that's set for June 4th, so I'm gonna send out the information to all the insurance coordinators on that, so we can have the call and kind of explain the program, and then hopefully get everything. And then they'll, MedCor will get whoever you would normally go to, like Venton Clinic, and then your preferred providers, and then that's where they would direct the person to go. So hopefully, and then, you know, hopefully, I mean, it'll be a good thing for everyone. And then Creative Risk can do a study, or can do a report, like, let me figure, probably like at six months, just a cost comparison, like what, you know, what have there been savings, yeah.

So does MedCorps charge, like per call?

So yeah, so what it is, there's an initial call, there's an initial setup fee that Heartland is paying. It's $250 for the setup fee, and then $250 annually. And it's $84 per call. And then that would just be charged to the claim file. So it's not a charge. Nope, it doesn't come back to you. So it would just be charged to the claim file. So we're hopeful that that'll be good. So... We mentioned...

We talked a little bit about it. The other best, the things that I like about it the most is that in the event of it's a sprained ankle or something like that, you don't have somebody leaving the office and going and this can all be handled with a phone call. And then the decision can be made, yeah, you should go home and stay at work. So you don't have all that lost time with someone taking you to and back. That's the cost of going to a patient care. So that's... That's what I heard.

Sorry, guys. We did.

You're fine.

Oh, you did. Okay. Did anybody send that to you?

I don't think so, no.

Yeah, yeah. That'll be good.

Thank you.

How are you today? I'm good. How are you? Good.

Oh, boy.

So I'll let, so I just kind of started in just, and I was talking about MedCorps. So I'll go ahead and let you talk about the renewal and then we can, I'll get back to my.

Perfect. So for the most part, the coverages, there's a flat rate renewal on the property, general liability. Those coverages, the only differences if they go up or down is based on the exposures, payroll values, equipment values, so on and so forth. A couple that I want to point out, first one being the equipment breakdown. So while you did have a little bit, of an increase in those values. The reason for the rate change is we have for years been with Cincinnati Insurance on the equipment breakdown. A year ago they told us we're no longer going to be writing equipment breakdown unless we have all the other coverages. Last year they agreed to give us a one year extension. So we are working with a couple other carriers getting quotes for those. They just haven't released those yet. We're hoping they're gonna come in lower. It's not a huge dollar amount in the scheme of things, but it sticks out for a rate change. The other one that I want to point out is the workers' compensation. So that's probably your biggest jump of premium, primarily the reason is you had just a small increase in your payroll, but your mod factor had a pretty big jump. It went from a .78 to a .97, so that automatically kind of increases things by 24%. On the second page is a mod snapshot. So this is our analysis showing why you had the jump. So in 24, 25, you had much higher than expected workers' compensation losses. That year's just now coming onto the mod. It will be on there for three years. So that is what's causing the big jump in your workers' compensation. Halfway down on the left side of that sheet, you'll see kind of a list of the top 10 claims by the incurred amount. So that top one at 100,000 has almost a 13% impact on your mod. So that just shows you on those injuries what the impact is to your mod and then to your premium. Those are strictly ours, correct? Those are just, yes.

Would you guys mind explaining that because I know this could come up before, when somebody would have that loss or they're qualified for a certain percentage loss, and if they would have an injury, reoccurring injury after that, how that happens then?

So OK, so you have an impairment rating. So let's say somebody had a shoulder injury, and they had a 10% impairment rating to the shoulder from that. Now they have an injury to that same shoulder. So then once they're at maximum medical improvement, again, then the adjuster will ask the doctor, is there any additional impairment above what had already been given?

So they could already possibly get that claim paid out.

Right. So maybe the doctor comes back and says, well, the total impairment to the shoulder is 12%. it's a 2% increase. So they're not going to get that full 12%. They're going to get the additional 2%.

That came up, I think, when we were talking about the back-to-work policy and stuff. Because then if we... allow them back to work and re-injure it.

And if it's an aggravation, it's the same claim. But if it's a whole new accident or incident, then it could be a separate claim, but typically.

But it's still, they don't get a bar. Correct. Yeah, because according to Iowa case law.

But I want to make sure that if they're talking about return to work, that if it's an aggravation, it's still that same claim.

On the mod rate, it's going to stay at 90.97 for three years. We have to maintain a much better work count claim in order to not continue that beyond the three years. I mean, our work count claims have to drop significantly. for us to get going after three years.

Well, so, yes, because you've had, I mean, I'm not sure what your, the current year losses are. I don't have that in front of me. Let's just say that they are better than what you see for the 22-23 year. That will bring it down. But I want to point out, at one point, 1.0 mod is average, so you guys are still doing better than what's expected. NCCI bases it off of similar size counties when they figure what a mod should be. A 1.0 is what's expected. Anything below that, so 0.97, is better, anything over that 1.0 is a little bit higher than what they expect. So you guys have just traditionally had a really, really good mod. So this is not, I don't want you to think that this is a bad mod, it's just worse than what you normally see.

And that mod is just for the work comp claims. That doesn't include the other claims.

I mean, you don't have the highest mod in the pool.

Historically, I think we've had it higher than this in years past. You're not the highest for work comp.

the triage thing.

Yeah, yeah, so, yeah, so, and with the safety committees, like, you know, I think that's been beneficial, the safety committee, and then you're implementing your return to work program. So, yeah, so you're being conscious of the things that are needed to bring your work costs down, so.

Have you got the eyeglasses done yet? Are they still working on that? No, they're still working on that.

We've got the safety sheet on. Yeah, so you're making big grounds there.

And we realize that this is extremely important. Yes, yep. And that's kind of just in keeping with, yeah, so you guys are on track for having the four safety committee meetings per year to get the 10% safety savings discount, which is in your work comp premium, so that's been taken out. I mean, you've gotten that discount, so yes. And then the other thing we've been talking about as far as quarterly, Troy coming out for his visits, He came out for his initial visit for the assessment. His second visit will be for training. And then the third visit, he's offering to have, if you would, rather than him coming out and doing training or follow-up, to do a mock OSHA visit. And I think that you were interested in that, right, Bruce?

Yeah, to do a mock OSHA where he just shows up and does, so that way if he finds something wrong, it's before OSHA comes in.

And it's actually going to be one of Troy's colleagues. So it's somebody who hasn't seen anything before. No, no.

So just kind of to give you what it would be like if OSHA would actually come in.

I did that at United when I was there. I would go into the station and do a quality assurance check before the or she came in and thank goodness we never got dinged on any of the stations I did that. So that's why it was huge.

No, I don't think we've ever had that. No, this is something that we've had.

You find a problem before they find a problem. So yeah, we'll get that set up for you.

And then... The only other things, talking about the harassment prevention training this year, I talked with Ray and he wanted to go ahead and do it as you did last year, so we did get approval, the board approved that. They've also approved the KPA system too, so those are options for you. I mean, Brent Henders has approved if you would be interested in that, but I think what you had last year worked out well and that was...

active shooter training to the same time. Do a whole like half day of training.

Oh yeah, yeah, that would be good. So yeah, so that's approved. And then we have the fall seminar is scheduled for September 10th this year. And that is at the Reining Center in Toledo. We're going to have Allie, who presented a couple years ago about generations in the workforce. She's going to present a different topic. Yeah, she was. So we're going to have her. And then Mary and Veronica went to the Genesis Conference, and they met a gentleman who has agreed to present and kind of to go about the work claims and speaking to ergonomics and and things like that. So Mary, you can.

Yeah, so he is the risk manager for Laramie County in Colorado. I don't remember how many years he's been there, but he has had just success on bringing their work comp claims down and their mod is like in a .5 two, three, something like that, extremely low. So he gives presentations to a number of municipality type of clients as well as some national organizations. So sitting at dinner one night, I just said, would you be willing to come and present at our fall meeting? And he said he can. create it any way we want it, so I think we're gonna have him focus on prevention, how he kind of went in there and looked at the prevention and what he could do and how he got that mod down. He is not charging for the presentation and Holmes Murphy will be paying for his transportation and hotel and stuff while he is here. So it will be no charge to the pool.

And then we'll have, Troy will probably still give a presentation, and then we'll have Brent Hinder's law firm there, and they'll present and have a question and answer time. So that's what we're looking at for the fall seminar. And then we have the elected official seminar, and that is scheduled, newly elected, elected official seminar scheduled for November 13th, and that is also at the Reineck Center. And then Brent's firm will present at that too.

So that would only have to go towards the newly elected or do you want currently?

It is open. Open to whoever? Yep, it is. So whoever would, you know. I think we did it two years ago and I think people found that beneficial. The new people coming in especially did. And then I think they may give the IPIP training. I'll know more as we get closer. So see if that's available. So that's really all I had on those things, but any questions?

So as far as our work comp, we do have room for improvement, but we're not the worst.

That's right. Again, I want to point out, you guys are still, even at a .97, you're still... A little below. A little below. You're just not where you had been a couple years ago.

Well, turn that into premium, and it's $40,000.

Correct.

Yes. Correct. Yes. That's the number I'm looking at. That's what it comes down to. Yeah. So how important is work count? Well, it's huge. It's $40,000. Yeah.

Last year. And that overall for all the counties is the driving cost. So just kind of looking at how we can get that down for all the counties and that was the implementation of the safety committees and everything that Troy's doing and just kind of all working together to make it better and the Med Corps we think will help and just always looking at ways to improve on that.

On your front page, Can you tell me what's the difference between property value and equipment breakdown value? What's the difference?

So your property values are, that includes your business personal property, your physical properties, your equipment breakdown values. You've got the same values. Equipment breakdown covers over and above property. So your property is your perils like fire and tornado, wind storms, theft, that sort of thing. Equipment breakdown is specifically excluded on your policy. So say you have an electrical arc that causes a loss, that's not included, that's not something that's covered under your property policy, so you would turn to an equipment breakdown policy and it would cover the damage that would ensue from something like that.

Like a printer goes down or a refrigerator goes belly up?

No, it would be something that, I don't know if you have boilers here or not, but a boiler, yeah, so I shouldn't rub off the top of my head. So a boiler has an explosion, something like that, and causes ensuing damages.

Okay, got it.

Yeah.

All right, well, any other questions?

So like when we have bigger purchases in the middle of a year, you guys don't adjust our premium, you just lift it up on?

Right, and then that's picked up on audit.

Okay.

So yeah, so then, so at the end, yeah, so like this year at the end of the policy, June 30th, then they'll do an audit for all, for property, work comp, auto, and then... don't you know if there were more if like you said if you purchase something and you didn't pay print you know you want to pay premium on it but then that'll be picked up on audit so if it was for you know six months out of the year then and then also like if your payroll wasn't as much then that's picked up on you know

yeah and then say yeah so just make sure that gets added and then it'll be picked up on on the audit it is voluntarily we decide we want to require that it's not mandatory by We kind of kicked it around. It seems like it's probably a good idea to enforce that. We got it.

That form that she sent out to us. Yes.

But the only thing I don't think we've ever asked to see one. Before you approve it.

Yes.

Because a lot of it comes from city events.

It was in that. Yes. That she sent it. I read that.

As long as it's on the street or the parking lot. As long as it's on property that's not owned by the county.

Right.

Well, Saturday, the Chick-fil-A truck was down there, but he was out on the street. He was on the street, so that's normal.

You're wasting me time after I got a hold of him today.

Well, it's like we've got a contest coming up for the 250th anniversary where all the arts kids are, well, I've got to go through it once in a while. I don't like that. you're still judging huh yeah so anyway all the kids uh and and from the plain schools and written schools of the community they've all submitted what 250 years means to them we've been going through these things and we're picking five students from each class they're going to be coming to the courthouse in july where they'll be presented a little certificate and such

sponsored event right yeah so you wouldn't need anything additional you're all good it's if somebody you know they want to come and set up a stand and sell stuff and you know a vendor or that type of thing those would be the ones that you would be to the sidewalk so this came up this morning too so I mean those are not typically like any type of political protest they're not going to be part of an organization typically there are people that are coming those are not typically you're not going to see you're not going to require that's one of their we just had some pictures from the last one

people on our climbing on our bell tower which is a historic thing and don't just be disrespectful so at that point it's like what can we do about that

arrest him I don't know from an insurance standpoint I don't know that I mean unless they have like a organization that says we are going to I mean I'd like a legitimate organization that correct correct so unfortunately there's that's probably I mean you have that is a that is a liability because if they a child falls down and gets hurt they're gonna come to the county and say with a child even if you do doesn't see doesn't seem to matter they're like that well that child didn't understand it's like we said the tort reform is tort reform Any other questions?

We have $7 million worth of credit limit.

Yes, $7 million limit for liability. and that's for like buildings right no that's for my life so if somebody says that's how much you would have to cover defense your property coverage is 40 million two hundred and seventy seven thousand

no I don't and that's and he'll the actuary he'll do that yeah and so then we'll have that again in October so yes very good large drive didn't end up with me trying to be your church

Oh, you're all good. I do not want to do that. It would take me a year just to pick up on all the acronyms and stuff. And then I still won't know what you're talking about. Bruce got called and told to do it. I don't mind it. No, he's a good asset to the board, for sure. Man, I hope somebody else wants this.

no very good did you have another question first no okay

Hope for a good work comp here.

Yes, I think that will be, yes. Just the landfill. We're going to go see Eric.

Then we'll be headed back.

All right, perfect. Thanks, sounds good. See you all. Bye.

Well, I think that's it, right? Yeah. So I take a motion to adjourn.

I have to close the agenda early because of the holidays. Oh, yeah, right. I'll be quite close to Friday. If I had a time, let me know. I'll second that one.

Okay, call for a vote.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye.