|
Clark County Commissioners pick new insurance agent: Mike Whalen replaced by John Neace to find lower price for county [The Evening News and the Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind.]
(Evening News and The Tribune, The (Jeffersonville, IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jun. 12--An effort to make sure Clark County is getting the best deal for insurance pitted Clark County Commissioners against one another during a Thursday night meeting.
The commissioners voted 2-1 to allow John Neace, of Maverick Insurance, to act as the agent of record for the county, with Commissioner Mike Moore voting against the move. Mike Whalen, of ISU Insurance and Investment Group, was the county's agent of record, and let out a sigh after the vote was cast and immediately left the meeting.
The appeal for the commissioners to change the county's agent of record is the promise that it will save the county money. The current insurance cost for the county is about $400,000 per year, Commissioner Ed Meyer said.
Regarding savings, "I personally believe like a minimum of 10 percent," said Edward "Pepper" Cooper, vice president of sales for Maverick Insurance, representing John Neace. "That's a minimum. That's $40,000."
"I am very confident in the carrier we have now," Moore said. "The guy has earned the right to keep our business."
It was suggested by Meyer, president of the commissioners, that the two agents alternate in choosing companies to send applications to for bids, but a compromise could not be reached. To get an accurate price comparison, Commissioner Les Young wanted to have both agents get information, from the same companies, to determine the best price.
"If you or Mike [Whalen] is agent of record, can both of you all bid on our insurance?" Young asked.
"No," Cooper said.
"See that's the part that sucks, then you really don't get the true comparison," Young said. "What if we make you agent of record and you do the quote and it's not low? Then can we go back to our other one [Whalen's]?"
"Yes sir," Cooper said.
Whalen -- who has been working on insurance quotes for the county since February -- said he already had four agencies working on bids.
"Right now, I am currently bidding out with several different carriers," Whalen said. "We are doing what he is proposing doing. We are doing that prep work right now."
Cooper said he will match the work done by Whalen and have the proposals for insurance ready by Aug. 1, when the county's insurance expires.
"I know there has not been an audit for all of your buildings, all your autos, all your personal property, all that stuff in six years," Cooper said.
"I'd disagree with that; that's totally untrue," Whalen said. "We've done that audit."
The debate continued with commissioners trying to reach a compromise by splitting up duties between Whalen and Neace. Cooper said Neace would agree to a division of duties. Whalen did not.
"I've already got these [applications] sent out the out to these companies," Whalen said. "Why would you want him to take my work from me? I've already done the work."
"He's not going to take work from you," Young said. "He would be doing his own work."
"And that's life," Cooper said of the last time he bid out a contract, got the lowest price, and still lost out.
"That's politics," Moore said to Cooper. "Admit it, it's politics."
"I'd prefer to keep the companies I've already submitted to," Whalen said.
"That isn't part of what's on the table," Meyer said.
"We send out bids for everything and I want to get the lowest price. That's all I'm saying." Young said. "If [the new bids are] not low Mike [Moore], then [bids from] Mike [Whalen] are there."
"Mike's [Whalen] not going to want to do business with Clark County again, and I don't blame him," Moore said.
In other business
--Preparation work for a planned bridge crossing the Ohio River at Utica is progressing, according to Christopher Murphy, vice president of Structurepoint. The project is nearing its second stage with 30 percent of the plans on alignment completed, but an interchange still needs to be configured. Structurepoint is working with Indiana Department of Transportation on the project.
--Star Hill Road right-of-way engineering work was amended to increase the amount allocated from $18,000 to $53,000. The money already had been committed to the project through federal requirements.
--Chris Broughton and Associates followed up with the council to determine if an agreement could be reached on streamlining telecommunications services for the county. The commissioners asked Broughton to present his proposal to the department heads for approval before a contract would be offered.
--An interlocal agreement with Hank Dorman, Utica Town board president, was discussed. The agreement would use the county's employees to help with road repairs not covered under state and federal funding in the town as long as Utica pays for the cost of materials. Discussions on funding for replacing a guardrail and signage on Waterline Road were offered by the county up to $40,000 in total. Costs beyond the predetermined amount will be discussed at a later date.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
INDUSTRIES
Activate Email 
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO East, January 20-22, 2010. Miami, FL.
