It was a bit of good news for the Barton County Commission Monday morning when it was presented with a dividend check from Alliance Insurance Group.
“This is always a fun time for me,” said Cassidy Smith, Alliance Insurance Group. The $5,172.17 check was a result of the county’s participation in the Kansas County Safety Dividend Group with EMC Insurance Companies, which is handled through AIG.
“This is a dividend-sharing process,” Smith said. All the counties that take part in this pool contribute funds, and if at the end of the year it was profitable, the money is divvied up to participants.
“It’s been a couple of years since I could do this,” Smith said. The dividend was based on the county’s 2018-19 budget year.
But, Smith said, it is not all a matter of luck and offered kudos to county department heads and employees. “You are doing a great job of keeping losses to a minimum.”
The money will be deposited into the county’s general fund.
EMC covers 26 Kansas counties and it provides property and casualty insurance coverage, and upon request, will provide loss control services such as safety inspections and defensive driving classes for employees. Kansas counties insured with EMC are also a part of the Kansas County Safety Dividend Group.
Barton County has its accident, property/casualty and workers compensation insurance through EMC.
Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Monday morning:
• Was presented with a dividend check from Alliance Insurance Group.
Cassidy Smith, Alliance Insurance Group said it was a result of the county’s participation in the Kansas County Safety Dividend Group with EMC Insurance Companies.
• Heard a report from Emergency Management Director Amy Miller on the Region E Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and public survey.
Hazard mitigation is the act of reducing risk to people and property from natural hazards. Barton County Emergency Management Department and other Barton County entities are updating the current plan and are comments from the general public.
• Approved the return of unspent funds for chronic disease risk reduction.
Barton County regularly applies for and receives CDRR funding from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. For Fiscal Year 2019, the county received $64,648.12, requiring a local match of $19,614.57, Public Health Director Shelly Schneider said.
Given that the health educator position, funded in part through the CDDR grant, was unfilled for a portion of the year after the retirement of Janel Rose, Barton County did not expend the funding as was anticipated. The Health Department is therefore required to return $10,351.88, Schneider said.
• Approved the return of unspent funds for child care licensing.
Barton County also applies for and receives Child Care Licensing funding from the KDHE. For Fiscal Year 2019, the county received $120,000. This grant allows for two full-time employees, but during the fiscal year, KDHE did not allow the Health Department to implement required training, Schneider said.
This resulted in Barton County not fully expending the funding. The Health Department is required to return $2,642.36.
