County faces rising property insurance costs

The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors agreed to a property and casualty insurance renewal with a substantial rate increase.

The premium rose about 12.5 percent to $515,994.45 for the April 1 renewal for coverage through the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust. The coverage includes numerous properties, and portions are billed out to other entities, such as the city's portion of the justice center.

The price increase is reflective of current trends for facility coverage, said insurance agent Ricky James during the board's Monday meeting. The coverage for law enforcement liability and auto liability also had large increases.

Deductibles are increasing, including for property, from $5,000 to $25,000, and for vehicle physical damage, from $1,000 to $2,500. James said MASIT added a deductible of 1 percent or a minimum of $50,000 for a severe convective storm, which he said is described as "a thunderstorm or a complex of thunderstorms with wind speeds greater than 58 mph as verified by the National Weather Service."

James said the new storm deductible is not something he has seen before.

The county had a large claim in the past year after a sprinkler burst at Crossroads Arena.

In other business:

The board gave approval for the Corinth-Alcorn County Airport to seek an MDOT Strategic Multi-Modal Investment Fund Grant toward construction of an 80-foot by 100-foot corporate hangar and related site work. The estimated project cost is $1.36 million.

Sowers said the airport has been looking for a way to add needed hangar space for aircraft storage and hopes this new grant will provide the opportunity. The city and county will each be asked to provide matching funds of $48,917.

Sowers is on the city board's agenda today with the same request.

A culvert project the airport sought was not funded, but the airport will continue trying to secure funding, she said.

Alcorn Extension Service Director Hunter Null presented the board with a report on 2023 activities and reminded the board that a search has begun for the next extension agent who will work with the 4-H program following the recent retirement of Tammy Parker.

The county will observe Good Friday on March 29 in place of Confederate Memorial Day on April 29.

The January tax settlement sent $2,400,274.57 to general county; $353,129.95 to roads; and $163,122.86 to bridge and culvert.

The board authorized increasing the physician's evaluation fee for lunacy cases from $125 to $150.