County to see costs rise for property, liability insurance

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by Patty  Cheffey

Marion County will be paying about 10 percent more for property and liability insurance for 2023.

Steve McGregor and Kara Viorel with First State Insurance Agency were present at Monday’s Marion County Commission meeting to discuss the insurance. Also during the meeting, the commissioners discussed a planning and zoning concern, two bridge projects and a grant.

Although the county has not had many claims, outside of accidents with sheriff’s vehicles and people falling at the courthouses, the county’s property and liability insurance will increase about $22,000.

The commissioners noted they are installing security cameras around the Hannibal Courthouses, which McGregor said was good as it will give the county records of any falls.

McGregor also pointed out the wind and hail deductible, which is currently at $100,000, but the county can lower that to $25,000. However that will cost them an additional $13,000 a year. 

After some discussion, the commissioners chose not to do that.

The insurance, which has a $4 million umbrella, also includes earthquake coverage.

In other business, Teya Stice, county improvement coordinator, reported a meeting is schedule on Jan. 12 with the Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss developing some guidelines for developers so they will know exactly what planning and zoning will expect from them when they make a zoning request.

Stice said she and Susan Gard had discussed the situation, and noted written guidance will show developers exactly “what you need to do before you come in,” she said.

While agreeing with the need for such guidance, Steve Begley, Western District commissioner, said he has always felt planning and zoning needed “some teeth,” some kind of enforcement.

In that regard, Stice asked the commissioners what they would like to see in the way of enforcement, and the county can then contact an attorney to see if those ideas can be enforced.

Jim Bensman was present from MECO Engineering to review with the commissioners the process for preliminary designing bridges on County Road 281 and on County Road 230.

Both bridges are being done under the new BRO program from MoDOT, and it is hoped the bridges can be bid at the same time.

The commissioners approved the having MECO Engineering do the preliminary design work.

In her report, Stice also discussed the TAP grant for the lighting on Veterans Road, noting engineering plans have to be included with that.

However, as the county does not want to pay for something they won’t pursue if they don’t get the grant, Begley asked Stice if it was possible to use the plans the Hannibal engineers had sent as an example.

Stice noted she is unfamiliar with electrical terms, but did not think she had the necessary estimation of costs.

Begley indicated he would review those plans with her following the meeting to see if those could be used in the grant application.

Stice reported she had ordered “Watch Your Step” signs for the courthouses, upon the request of Larry Welch, Eastern District commissioner;

Stice noted the carpet in the Hannibal Courthouse needed repaired until the commissioners could make a decision on replacement. The commissioners approved that;

She also reported an AED refresher course will be held at the Palmyra Courthouse on Jan. 19 and at the Hannibal Courthouse on Jan. 30.

The commissioners also reported they had done the final walk-through on the new storage facility.