By Bruce Rolfe
With former part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith requesting to be an on-call volunteer employee instead of a paid employee, the Climax Village Council invited Kevin Decker, of the Decker Insurance Agency, to explain the Volunteer Accident Policy the Council is considering at its regular meeting February 4.
Groups and organizations also routinely volunteer with community projects in the Village, so the volunteer accident policy was something the Council felt was important to review.
The Village’s insurance carrier representative said currently the Village has a general liability policy in place for volunteers with a $3 million limit, covering a third party’s injury or damage to property that could occur while volunteers or a group are performing volunteer work in the Village.
The Volunteer Accident Policy provides coverage for medical expenses if a volunteer gets injured. Decker explained there is a $100,000 limit for all volunteers throughout the year. There is also a $25,000 limit for an accidental death. The policy covers up to 300 volunteers and costs approximately $400 annually. The number of volunteers covered on the policy could be increased, however the cost would increase. Decker said a liability form signed by a volunteer could work in some cases, but it still would be difficult to prevent a lawsuit if an injury occurred.
Decker also informed the Council about the insurance carrier’s grant program opportunity the Council could pursue. The time frame is February 1 to March 15 to apply for the grant. The other time frame is August 1 to September 15. The grant is for up to $5,000 that would go towards equipment or a project that would be considered a risk reduction. Village Council President Bill Lewis said the Council is researching the cost of fire retardent filing cabinets, which would qualify for grant consideration.
Decker adds the Council can also apply for 50 percent reimbursement for certification programs through the insurance company’s Training Certification Program.
The Council will consider all options Decker reviewed.
The Council expressed interest in asking the C-S School District if the school has any programs in place that require students to perform community volunteer work, potentially allowing the two to network together for community improvement projects.
In other items covered at the February 4 meeting:
• Finance/Insurance/Administration Chairperson Denise Pyle said the committee continues to review a new library lease to present to the Library Board. The committee is also reviewing a new T-Mobile contract.
Pyle said the committee is also working on reviewing the employee handbook and will update the Council with any recommended changes.
• Public Safety Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig said he is currently working with local electrician Don Cochran and it has been decided the best location for the weather warning siren the council purchased recently is near the water tower. The Village has submitted a request for power at the location with Consumers Energy.
Ludwig also informed the council data for vehicles driving into the Village from the west on West Maple Street for the month of January showed 3,254 traffic vehicles went through the area during the month, and 25 percent came through on a Thursday. He said the most prominent speed was between 36-40 miles per hour in the 25 miles per hour speed zone, followed by 31-35 mph.
• Lewis said the attorney is reviewing the village’s ordinances and will offer advice how the village should move forward with the ordinance process.
With former part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith requesting to be an on-call volunteer employee instead of a paid employee, the Climax Village Council invited Kevin Decker, of the Decker Insurance Agency, to explain the Volunteer Accident Policy the Council is considering at its regular meeting February 4.
Groups and organizations also routinely volunteer with community projects in the Village, so the volunteer accident policy was something the Council felt was important to review.
The Village’s insurance carrier representative said currently the Village has a general liability policy in place for volunteers with a $3 million limit, covering a third party’s injury or damage to property that could occur while volunteers or a group are performing volunteer work in the Village.
The Volunteer Accident Policy provides coverage for medical expenses if a volunteer gets injured. Decker explained there is a $100,000 limit for all volunteers throughout the year. There is also a $25,000 limit for an accidental death. The policy covers up to 300 volunteers and costs approximately $400 annually. The number of volunteers covered on the policy could be increased, however the cost would increase. Decker said a liability form signed by a volunteer could work in some cases, but it still would be difficult to prevent a lawsuit if an injury occurred.
Decker also informed the Council about the insurance carrier’s grant program opportunity the Council could pursue. The time frame is February 1 to March 15 to apply for the grant. The other time frame is August 1 to September 15. The grant is for up to $5,000 that would go towards equipment or a project that would be considered a risk reduction. Village Council President Bill Lewis said the Council is researching the cost of fire retardent filing cabinets, which would qualify for grant consideration.
Decker adds the Council can also apply for 50 percent reimbursement for certification programs through the insurance company’s Training Certification Program.
The Council will consider all options Decker reviewed.
The Council expressed interest in asking the C-S School District if the school has any programs in place that require students to perform community volunteer work, potentially allowing the two to network together for community improvement projects.
In other items covered at the February 4 meeting:
• Finance/Insurance/Administration Chairperson Denise Pyle said the committee continues to review a new library lease to present to the Library Board. The committee is also reviewing a new T-Mobile contract.
Pyle said the committee is also working on reviewing the employee handbook and will update the Council with any recommended changes.
• Public Safety Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig said he is currently working with local electrician Don Cochran and it has been decided the best location for the weather warning siren the council purchased recently is near the water tower. The Village has submitted a request for power at the location with Consumers Energy.
Ludwig also informed the council data for vehicles driving into the Village from the west on West Maple Street for the month of January showed 3,254 traffic vehicles went through the area during the month, and 25 percent came through on a Thursday. He said the most prominent speed was between 36-40 miles per hour in the 25 miles per hour speed zone, followed by 31-35 mph.
• Lewis said the attorney is reviewing the village’s ordinances and will offer advice how the village should move forward with the ordinance process.
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