Household program might increase insurance cost

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Red Willow County's household hazardous waste program might make its insurance costs increase, an insurance man told the board of commissioners Monday.

Larry Eisenmenger of MNB Insurance said that hazmat program activities outside the county can put the entity at a greater risk than normal county activities do.

He cautioned commissioners that the program may ultimately affect the pricing of the county's policies.

Commissioner Steve Downer asked that Eisenmenger investigate the coverage the county needs for the program and the costs involved.

Also on Monday, commissioners approved two real estate tax exemptions, for Community Hospital of McCook, which commissioners discussed last week but returned to County Assessor Sandra Kotschwar for paperwork corrections.

Kotschwar said the hospital qualifies for tax exemptions because it is a non-profit organization, and exemptions are allowed except for space rented by the McCook Clinic and medical specialists.

In other action:

* Commissioner Earl McNutt said he will contact Brad Edgerton of Cambridge, field office supervisor for the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, regarding commissioners' questions about the county's responsibility for maintenance and removing trees and obstructions on the Nothnagel flood control dam southeast of McCook.

* Commissioners, county attorney Paul Wood and Rex Nelson, director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., continued an ongoing discussion of the documents required for a forgivable loan awarded by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to 21st Century Systems, a new McCook company that will develop computer software for the U.S. Department of Defense.

* Commissioners discussed appointments to the jail task force. McNutt suggested putting Wood on the task force, and said he will visit with judges Cloyd Clark and John Battershell about serving on the committee.

* Commissioners approved payroll claims and reviewed the sheriff's monthly revenue report and the treasurer's report of changes in pledged securities and checks received and deposited.

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