County insures voting machines for $82 a year [Clay Center Dispatch, Kan.]

Dec. 11--Clay County Commissioners agreed Monday to add the county's seven-year-old voting machines to be covered by insurance when they are off premises, but only about half of what they paid for them.

County Clerk Kayla Wang estimated the 22 voting machines, scanners, poll books and support equipment cost around $70,000, but considering how quickly electronic equipment depreciates, it is difficult to say what they are actually worth.

Spicer said the machines are probably worth what a seven-year-old computer is worth -- next to nothing; but there would be cost the county would incur if they should break and have to replace them.

Wang said the brand of voting machines that the county owns is no longer made. If one were to break, they would have to buy something else.

"I hate to cover them and they're not worth anything," Commissioner Jerry Mayo said.

Wang said the county is required by law to have only four electronic voting machines that are handicapped accessible -- one for each polling place and the Courthouse.

Under the current policy, the machines aren't covered by insurance when they leave the Courthouse grounds. Under the new proposal, they would be covered for a value up to $45,000, regardless of where they were.

While the machines are together for a short time as they are transported to three polling places, there is more of a risk of one or two damaged from vandalism or being dropped than from a complete loss, Commissioner Mike Spicer said.

Wang said she is more concerned about vandalism than any other possible damage.

Commissioner David Thurlow suggested the commissioners "split the difference" and cover the voting machines for $45,000, about half of what they paid for them.

Insurance agent Bob Heilman said adding the machines for a value of $70,000 to be covered regardless of where they are cost $128 a year. Covering half of that costs half as much, he said. This policy is similar to how other electronic devices are covered. Under this policy, the county would have a $500 deductible rather than a $5,000 deductible under the blanket policy.

Spicer said the cost was less than what he thought it would be, and Commissioner Mayo and Thurlow also said the price was right.

According to County Clerk Kayla Wang's minutes of the Dec. 10 Commission meeting:

-- Commissioner Spicer, Commissioner Mayo and Commissioner Thurlow were present at a regular meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. The minutes were approved as printed. Payroll in the amount of $147,685.21 was reviewed and approved. Account payables in the amount of $30,463.97 were reviewed and approved.

-- Abatements in the amount of $627.14 were reviewed and approved by commissioners.

-- Chairman Michael W. Spicer signed a Mortgage Release on the revolving loan that Davitt & Gini Harold had received though the Economic Development Fund. This loan has been paid in full.

--Commissioner Thurlow made the motion to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage license for the American Legion Post No. 227, Clifton. Commissioner Mayo seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

-- EMS Director Marvin VanBlaricon met with commissioners to give the weekly report. Repairs are being made to Ambulance Unit No.1908. The transmission is being replaced at an estimated amount of $4,000. An Event Approval was signed by commissioners for VanBlaricon and Patsy Charest to attend a Medicare Billing Seminar in Wichita on Dec. 12.

-- Zach Baer, Lamunyon, met with commissioners to discuss the water damage at the EMS Building. Permission was granted to hire American Metropolitan Environmental, Inc. to do an inspection of the building at a cost of $1,410 and to provide a report for the commissioners.

-- County Attorney, Rick James, met with commissioners to report that all 12 properties sold on the delinquent tax sale last week bringing in a little over $19,000. This should place all of these properties back on the tax roll with the county receiving taxes from them again. James reported that the county intends to start this process again in the Fall of 2013 with another group of delinquent properties.

-- Marlene Stamm, NCK Environmental, met with commissioners to give the monthly report on the sanitarian permits in Clay County. There have been five permits closed and seven new permits issued. Stamm also reported on several trainings and activities that she has attended.

-- Robert Heilman, Heilman Insurance Agency, met with commissioners to report on the cost of insuring the voting equipment while it is in transit and while it is located at a polling place. Commissioners agreed to insure the voting equipment for $45,000 at the cost of $82 per year with a $500 deductible.

Heilman expressed that there is always a gap in coverage for the mobile equipment if the auto policy is written with a different company than the property and liability coverage and would like for the county to consider the bid on the auto coverage for the year 2013. Commissioner Spicer said that the County needs to look at two items, the exposure for the county and the cost of premiums for the county. If the county accepts the auto insurance proposal with Heilman Insurance the premium would increase by $4,142 per year and the policy would not cover the Clay County Task Force vehicle. The Task Force would have to take out a policy of their own and this could be very costly for them too.

Commissioners agreed to renew the property and liability coverage with Heilman Insurance, but would like to review the auto proposal in more detail. A decision will be made next week.

-- Commissioners approved the 2013 Holidays that Clay County will observe.

-- Sheriff Chuck Dunn met with commissioners to give the weekly report. Two event approvals were signed by the chairman for Sheriff's Department to attend training.

-- Jessie Spivey, State Farm Insurance, met with commissioners to review some concerns on the current auto policy. The coverage on the vehicle for the Clay County Task Force is a big concern under this policy. Spivey reported that State Farm will continue to cover these vehicles as they currently are even if the county does not own them. Commissioners asked Spivey if he could provide this in writing from the underwriters of State Farm they would consider staying with State Farm on the auto policy. Spivey will return next week with the answer.

-- Landfill Director Debbie Charest met with commissioners. The chairman signed the KWORCC Building Inspection recommendation for the Landfill to be in compliance. Commissioners granted permission for the landfill to close on Saturday, Dec. 22 so the employees could observe an extended holiday. Commissioners approved the following event approvals for the landfill to attend: Hazardous Materials IQ for 1st Responders at Beloit, on January 12th, 2012 and CWDAK District Meeting on January 10th, 2013 at Salina, Kansas. Ms. Charest presented commissioners with a drawing and specs for the building addition to house the recycling part of the Landfill. Commissioners reviewed the drawing and made recommendations on a couple of changes for this addition. This plan will be reviewed again after the first of the year.

-- The bids were reviewed for the Kansas Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits that the County had for sale. They are as follows: Fallbrook Credit Finance, LLC, $0.90 per dollar of credit and they pay the transfer fee; Cohen Esrey Capital Partners, LLC, $0.89 per dollar of credit and they pay transfer fee; Clocktower Tax Credits, LLC, $0.892 per dollar of credit and the county pay transfer fee; U.S. Bancorp Community Dev. Corp, $0.90 per dollar of credit and the county pay transfer fee; Judith M. Burrell, $.92.1 per dollar of credit and they pay the transfer fee.

Commissioner Mayo made the motion to accept the high bid from Judith M. Burrell at a rate of $.92.1 per dollar of credit with them paying the transfer fee. Commissioner Thurlow seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

-- Commissioners adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

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(c)2012 the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.)

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