Pinckneyville renews insurance with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc.
The Pinckneyville City Council voted to renew the city's property/casualty, worker's compensation and liability insurance with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc. for another year.
The premium will be approximately $144,700, a savings of $19,540 over the package presented by the Illinois Municipal League at the previous meeting. The premium includes a $1,300 safety grant. The city will also receive $3,967 in safety grant funds to use as the council sees fit.
Jessica Govic, representing Arthur J. Gallagher, said that several factors are driving insurance increases in Illinois. The recent tornadoes have caused property insurance to climb slightly and fear that a major quake could occur on the New Madrid or Wabash fault lines equates to higher earthquake insurance. The City of Pinckneyville carries $5 million in earthquake coverage. The increase was a very small part of their annual premium. The third factor driving insurance increases is Illinois' ranking as the fourth worst state for worker's compensation claims. Last year, Illinois ranked number 23.
The city will get some mileage out of their current plan with Arthur J. Gallagher before the end of the year. Commissioner Leonard Heisner reported that the heavy snowfall last week caused some water damage in the outer wall behind the brick facade outside City Clerk Fran Thomas' office. There is nothing to be done about the problem until the snow melts.
Commissioner Sam Fulk reported that city crews worked 74 hours, including 42 hours of overtime to clear the recent snow.
"We used more salt and cinders on this storm than we did all last year," Fulk said.
In other business, the council:
• declined to make any changes to the current leaf ordinance. Jeana Raines asked that the city council consider a burn ban at a previous meeting. Commissioner Fulk said that there will be no changes at this time. He clarified that the city cleans fallen limbs and debris from streets and sidewalks after storms. Storm debris that falls into someone's yard is the responsibility of the homeowner. Homeowners may pay the city $20 to remove their leaves or make other arrangements. However, leaves are not to be raked onto city property or burned on city property. Mayor August Kellerman read a letter from Tirzah Chapman that opposes leaf burning. Commissioner Kevin Hicks said that including the letter from Chapman, the city has received three complaints about leaf burning.
• passed a resolution declaring the 1970 Ford F250 custom truck owned by the Fire Department as surplus property. The truck and some equipment will be sold.
• heard from Commissioner Hicks that Santa Claus is expected to be in Pinckneyville at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, weather permitting. Santa will ride a fire truck.