County liability rates hold steady despite storm losses [The Cullman Times, Ala.]

Dec. 29--CULLMAN -- After sustaining the kind of damage Cullman County did on April 27 of this year, a subsequent jump in insurance premiums for future coverage periods would seem inevitable.

But for the county's standing liability insurance policy, the tornado didn't do much damage -- at least, not to the county's pocketbook.

The county commission reviewed its 2012 increase in liability coverage at its regular meeting last week, and was happy to find out its premium didn't climb even one percent from 2011 to 2012.

"It was only a $4,000 increase over last year's premium," said county administrator Gary Teichmiller. "That's real good, considering the kinds of losses we had in the tornado."

Indeed, $4,000 represents a very modest increase -- just .92 percent -- on a policy whose liability premium payment for 2012 will be $435,915.

Commission chairman James Graves said the county was glad to see liability rates hold steady in a year when it shelled out up-front money for property deductibles related to the courthouse roof, county vehicles and a host of other items damaged by April's storms.

"We had to spend a good bit of money to get everything to kick in after the tornado, and it's been a little like pulling teeth to bring FEMA and some other parties together to make sure we can be reimbursed for the losses we covered," said Graves. "It's really just kind of a relief that, on the liability side, our rates basically stayed right where they were."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already reimbursed approximately $60,000 in property insurance deductibles paid for damage to more than 30 county vehicles; commissioners anticipate the agency will also reimburse the county for deductibles paid for repairs to the courthouse and other structures hit by the storms.

In other business at its regular meeting, the commission:

--Authorized payment of the 2012 county liability insurance premium to the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) for $435,915.

--Approved some minor updates to the county vehicle fleet safety policy.

--Ratified the following personnel actions:

--Transfers:

--Sharon Davenport from the water department to the sales tax office.

--Rebecca Weeks from the sales tax office to the water department.

--New hires:

--Tenis Wayne Moore at the Stony Lonesome OHV park.

--Joe Perry at the county garage as fleet manager.

--Chandra Mahler at the probate office.

--Promotion -- Patricia Michelle Barnett at the sales tax office.

--Resignation -- Brandon H. Patterson at the sheriff's office.

The next commission meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 in the first-floor commission meeting room of the Cullman County courthouse.

--Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 270.

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(c)2011 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

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