Amy DiBlasi with Daniel & Henry Insurance Risk Management presented a proposal to Owensville’s Board of Aldermen on Monday for insurance coverage which is an increase of $17,909 for the 2023-24 fiscal year compared to the 2022-23 FY which ends June 30.

The city’s new premium for all coverage for the coming fiscal year will be $173,973, up from $156,064 in the fiscal year ending next week. The 11.5-percent increase is largely due to
“property” claims losses of $64,174 for a fire which destroyed a golf course storage shed and equipment and the “general liability” loss of $82,082. That second figure includes legal fees the city finds itself spending to defend against a lawsuit filed by renters of space in the shed for their golf carts and clubs.

In a June 8 ruling, Judge Ryan J. Helfrich denied the city’s motion for a summary judgement in the case brought Sept. 29, 2022, by Chris and Monique Epstein, Michael and Melissa Graham, Brad and Tammy Bagwell, and Alan and Dana Curtner, A case review has been scheduled for 9:04 a.m. Oct. 12.

For the fiscal year concluding June 30, the city has $146,865 in losses across all categories with $609 of that coming under the heading “work comp.”

The loss summary as of June 11 did not include damage to two city police vehicles heavily damaged during emergency responses by two patrolmen.

DiBlasi told aldermen that “overall, things are looking pretty good” despite the rate increase. Factors in the increase include rates set by insurance providers, increases in exposure for the city, and what she called the “tough current term in relation to claims.”

The city’s increased exposure includes three new automobile units being covered and the increases values of those. Staffing is up in the police department which also brings additional coverage requirements, she told aldermen.

Rates for property coverage have increased where prior increases were due to increased coverage for cyber crimes.

DiBlasi said she found a new coverage provider for hail and wind damage which had a $50,000 deductible compared to the city’s current provider which sought a $250,000 deductible on the renewal. DiBlasi said expensive Midwestern claims on wind and hail damage in the past year were cited for the increased policies being proposed. She noted the city has had a frozen pipes issue at a water pumping station, a couple of fires and a couple incidents of equipment damage over the past seven years but no wind and hail damage claims.

She “complimented” the city for an “excellent three-year streak” of having no workman’s compensation claims.

She also credited the city’s deputy clerk, Kara Meyer for her diligence in preparing documents for the coverage review process.

“(Kara) does a great deal to prepare (reports),” said DiBlasi. “She does a fabulous job.”

Aldermen approved the new policy on a motion by Cathy Lahmeyer, a second by Kevin McFadden, and a 4-0 vote.

Owensville’s 2023-24 operating budget was also approved Monday. The 50-page budget document, including a cover letter, is available for inspection at City Hall.

City Clerk Peggy Farrell said the city’s $6972,749 budget is “balanced to the penny” with no surplus anticipated. The city will use $378,253 in Capital Improvements sales tax funds for projects in the water and sewer department ($89,496), street ($169,077) and parks ($120,680) to complete projects in the coming year and balance out the budget for those respective funds.

The cover page noted, “The Board of Aldermen has discussed and agreed with the City Administrator to use Capital Improvement sales tax funds along with previous balances to offset some departmental expenses and balance the budget.”