Commissioners approve independent contractor agreements for several companies

GOSHEN — A former friend of the county will be returning to provide insurance assessments and reviews after Elkhart County Commissioners approved an independent contractor agreement with Deep Dive Advocacy during Monday morning’s meeting.

Although the independent contractor agreement and subsequent task order was already approved, Middlebury resident Pam Keyser asked during the public comment portion of the meeting for clarification on Deep Dive Advocacy, the company approved to evaluate contractors and produce maximum savings on county insurance, for a not to exceed amount of $45,000 paid quarterly.

Keyser said she did a deep dive into Deep Dive Advocacy and discovered that the company’s certification of organization was March 5.

She questioned why the commissioners would use a company that is so new for the contract.

“How did you find out about this group?” She asked. “Maybe they were under a different name before? I don’t know. I just think it seems a little risky to consider a group like this who has just been in business for a month.”

Elkhart County Administrator Jeff Taylor had a reasonable explanation for hiring the seemingly yet unvetted company.

He confirmed that the company of Deep Dive Advocacy received licensure just a few weeks, by its own Bob Frick.

Frick was previously with R&R Benefits and later by Gallagher, which is the county’s insurance broker for property and casualty insurance.

Taylor explained that when Frick parted ways with Gallagher, due to a noncompete agreement, he was unable to do similar work for a few years. That agreement has since lapsed, which Taylor calls a benefit to the county.

Now an independent stand-alone insurance consultant with a long-standing history of working with Elkhart County, Frick has only a few clients. Taylor said this allows him to spend adequate time and care on each of his projects and being independent, there is no risk of outside persuasion.

“We’re not hearing from the insurance company, we’re not hearing from the broker, we’re hearing from an independent person who’s got over 30 years in the industry who’s got nothing to gain by telling us where to save money and how to cut costs,” Taylor said.

OTHER BOARD ITEMS

• Bids for the Historic Goshen Courthouse window replacement were received during the meeting. Bids were received from Schrock Commercial of Goshen with a base bid of $1,063,000, Alternate 1 of $15,332 and Alternate 2 of $13,454; R. Yoder Construction of Nappanee with a base bid of $1,154,900, Alternate 1 of $16,340 and no bid for Alternate 2; Slatile Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., of South Bend, with a base bid of $2,788,000, Alternate 1 of $20,000 and Alternate 2 of $58,000; JT Contracting LLC of New Haven with a base bid of $1,747,000, Alternate 1 of $45,000 and Alternate 2 of $25,000; and S&L Specialty Contracting of Spencerville with a base bid $1,656,000, Alternate 1 of $15,000 and Alternate 2 of $25,000.

• Commissioners also approved independent contractor agreements for several companies providing appraisal services to the county, as part of the new standard, independent contractor agreement. Elkhart County Attorney Steve Olsen explained that the appraisals are in relation to highway department acquisitions for road project stormwater or other times when the county acquires land or property for whatever reason. Indiana law requires, he said, that municipalities get multiple appraisals and average the totals together. Independent contract agreements were approved for Rita Ann Gabriel and Associates Inc.; Milo F. Vale & Co. Inc. d/b/a Vale Appraisal Group.; The Worden Group Inc.; Deputy Appraisals LLC.; and Iverson Grove Real Estate Appraising Corporation.

• An independent contract agreement for Cambridge Systematics Inc. for special engineering services for the highway department was also approved.

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