Village will not be part of insurance program

MILLERSBURG — After debating the pros and cons of letting Utility Service Partners Inc. use the village’s logo in marketing its insurance program at a meeting recently, council decided not to pursue being part of the program.

Councilman Brent Hofstetter and councilwoman Kelly Hoffee both presented the research they did on Utility Service Partners to council at Monday’s meeting in Millersburg.

“Looking up businesses that offer the same service, and checking with insurance providers and what people have said, I discovered that if the insurance provider is not offering water line and sewer line coverage in your area, you will not be able to obtain it individually,” Hoffee said. “This type of service is offered by geographic region on a city-by-city, state-by-state basis.

“One site says that we should contact our utilities water and sewer service about warranties and insurance, which we don’t offer,” she continued. “The biggest thing I took from this is, people are afraid of being scammed.”

Hoffee said she probably wouldn’t purchase the insurance if it were mailed to her home without the village logo accompanying the literature.

“I don’t know what the right answer is, but it seems like this isn’t normal,” Hoffee added.

Hofstetter said he checked with his personal homeowners insurance, and was told there are two carriers that offer that type of insurance and another is in the works.

“They were all cheaper to add riders than it was to join this program,” Hofstetter said. “There are other options.

“I don’t have a problem with dismissing this company that made the presentation, because there are other options. I don’t have a problem with us not partnering with them.”

Hoffee and Hofstetter suggested if residents encounter problems with their water and sewage lines, they should check with their homeowners policy, at least as a place to start.

“If that doesn’t work, if their carrier doesn’t offer that insurance, they can branch out from there to check with other organizations,” Hofstetter said. “There are other options.”

Hoffee added that she could understand why Village Solicitor Bob Hines did not want to let Utility Service Partners use the village logo in its marketing.

“Another thing the public should be aware of is, sewer back-up into your basement is not something this program would have covered,” she said. “That is not something the village of Millersburg will cover. You need to add that to your homeowners policy.”

Mayor Jeff Huebner asked council if the consensus was to not participate in this program, and all members agreed.

In other business before council, Village Administrator Nate Troyer reported that the design and review board will meet on Wednesday, March 7, to consider a certificate of appropriateness (COA) application for new signage at the University of Akron Millersburg branch.

Planning and zoning also will meet to consider a variance request for the proposed sign due to size and whether it is allowable in the Village Business District.

Troyer also reported that sign installation has begun from the Hardy Township Sign Grant, with new ‘Stop’ signs being installed. Troyer said they improve visibility a lot.

He was also happy to report that the Clay Street Pavilion project has been reimbursed for $31,035.05 by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

He also noted that the Girls Night Out, sponsored by Historic Downtown Millersburg on Saturday, was very successful despite some wet weather.

Reporter Kevin Lynch can be reached at 330-674-5676 or [email protected].

CREDIT: KEVIN LYNCH