Commission to get refund from worker’s compensation fund

Sept. 12--A significant drop in the number of work injury claims by Calhoun County public employees will result in an insurance refund, the County Commission heard at its meeting Thursday.

The Association of County Commissions of Alabama, a statewide association of 67 commissions that administers a self-insured workers' compensation fund, approved a $700,000 investment earnings refund this year to be distributed among its members.

County Administrator Ken Joiner said the commission would see a cut of that money.

"We will get some of the refund after they perform an audit of the year's claims," Joiner said. "If we had a good year, we'll see some of it."

He also said that county worker's compensation claims have "drastically decreased" since a safety committee was formed, headed by county engineer Brian Rosenbalm.

"Four or five years ago, we had 21 reported claims with the Highway Department," Rosenbalm said. "The year we implemented the safety group, we had three."

This year, Rosenbalm said, the department has had two claims. With fewer claims, the rates the county pays to participate in the insurance fund have decreased.

The commission on Thursday agreed to renew its participation in the insurance fund.

The commission also received three competitive bids for the supply of asphalt for county roadwork Thursday.

McCartney Construction Company, Advanced Asphalt Products and Midsouth Paving all placed bids for the 12-month contract to provide road repair material to the county.

The commission referred the bids to Rosenbalm, who will review the them and make a suggestion to the commission at its next meeting.

In other business, the commission:

-- Authorized chairman Tim Hodges to sign documents financing new equipment at the county landfill.

-- Approved the purchase for $44,188 of maintenance support services from New World Systems, which supplies the county's accounting and human resources software.

-- Rescinded a contract extension with Traffic Signs for the purchase of sign posts. The contract had already been extended for the maximum of three years.

-- Approved a one-year contract with Rite Way Services to provide custodial services at the county courthouse for $3,784.26 per month.

-- Approved a custodial services contract with Praisekleen for the final year. Praisekleen will provide those services for the Calhoun County EMA operations center at a monthly rate of $1,212.

-- Approved a $500 contribution to the Calhoun County Center for the Arts, which will use the money to purchase equipment for a volunteer community band and for plays and concerts.

-- Approved a $10,000 contribution to the Rimpsey Agency, which provides educational and recreational after-school programs to disadvantaged youth.

-- Passed abatement resolutions for properties that had been declared public nuisances at 172 Shurbutt Circle, Alexandria; 0 Ammons St., 305 Russell St. Rear, and 305 Dogwood Ave., Anniston.

The commission also declared as public nuisances properties at 805 Sanota Dr. and 707 W. 38th St., Anniston.

-- Held the first public reading of an off-site alcohol sales license for the Dollar General store at 12518 U.S. Highway 431 in Ohatchee.

Staff writer Zach Tyler: 256-235-3564. On Twitter @ZTyler_Star.

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