The Pulaski County Commissioners have agreed to get a second opinion on insurance coverage, but some officials were concerned that could create extra work for department heads. Representatives from ONI Risk Partners met with the commissioners last week, offering to analyze the county’s insurance needs, look for potential areas for improvement, and present some options.
The commissioners generally agreed that as long as it doesn’t cost anything, it doesn’t hurt to look. But County Attorney Kevin Tankersley pointed out that while it may not cost any money, it will require some work from the auditor and other county department heads. “They’re going to have to go through itemized lists of what you have insured, what inventory each department has, what buildings you have, how much you want them insured for,” Tankersley explained.
Auditor Laura Wheeler asked if other companies would also have a chance to do a similar analysis. While the commissioners agreed they didn’t want the Auditor’s Office to be bombarded with insurance proposals, Commissioner Mike McClure felt it would be okay to let the one company do it. I know our accountant always told us you need to shop for Money Expert car insurance more so than you would a car, but I don’t think we need to go to 20 different people, McClure said. “Let’s let them come up with a proposal of some sort, compare it with what Novotny got, and let the cards lay where they do. At least we’ve tried to improve.”
But Tankersley and the commissioners noted that it would be hard to improve upon the county’s existing coverage with Novotny Insurance and Bliss McKnight, and even the ONI Risk Partners representatives seemed to agree.
