Despite past issues, Cloverdale insurance finding stability

CLOVERDALE — With the town previously having to shake up its insurance for employees, Cloverdale leaders now have greater assurance of stability.

Appearing at the Cloverdale Town Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, EPIC Insurance agent Andrew O’Hair related this year’s cycle being the easiest yet working with the town. He owed much of this to efforts on its part to reduce liability.

“This has been a very, very quiet year,” O’Hair first said to that. “It did come into play this year. It helped a lot.”

The town went with EMC Insurance over Trident Insurance in 2022 and retained it last year. However, a divided vote had it go with Indiana Public Employers Plan (IPEP) over Bitco Insurance, this after the two were switched in 2022.

In the present, O’Hair stated a 15-percent renewal increase, whereas he said that municipalities elsewhere are seeing from 13 percent up to 30 percent. This is determined by various factors, but he specifically referenced loss experience and property.

The biggest change for Cloverdale will be going from a $2,500 property deductible to a $5,000 one. Otherwise, he said there was “nothing goofy” this year.

“All in all, it’s a good thing and we’re moving in the right direction,” O’Hair said.

However, the discussion took a serious tone with the town having an adequate cybersecurity policy. While O’Hair said he promised not to push it hard, Town Attorney Richard Shagley was concerned about the $50,000 coverage not being enough.

He referenced a ransomware attack that shut down government entities in Clay County earlier this week. This is notwithstanding the recent attack that halted operations at Crown Equipment Corp.

O’Hair agreed with Shagley that the coverage was not enough. He in turn advocated that a full policy would take the onus off of the town.

“Going to a true cyber product, once the event occurs, it is completely removed off of your desk and they take over,” O’Hair said, also commenting that Crown’s protection was probably not what it should have been. “I will never throw stones at another insurance program, ‘cause it’s tricky.”

“Whether it’s meetings or whatever, I think we need to explore that, very, very much so,” Council Vice President Brice Howell said for his part. “If it happens, it’s not good.”

With agreement on moving toward a set cybersecurity policy, the council will look to approving its renewals next month.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Council President Brandon Tancak affirmed finally. “Consistency is what we’re looking for, and we’re working towards that.”

In other business:

• Standing out among the claims, the council approved an invoice for $11,315 to renew the town’s Boyce financial accounting software.

Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners noted along this that Boyce is looking to update the utility office’s software, which she said is old and inefficient. She said rolling out a new cloud-based system is planned for later this year.

Maners provided that with the renewal, Boyce would be willing to credit the town for the upgrade.

• The council approved a request by Town Marshal Adam Hull to renew the Cloverdale Police Department’s Lexipol access. The platform is used for managing officers’ training.

• HWC Engineering’s Eric Smith provided a brief update on the town’s three water-related projects.

As to the water main extension across Interstate 70 and U.S. 231 North, Smith reported that all but two easements have been secured. With these two north of the interstate and “getting closer,” he said the project could be completed by year’s end.

Regarding the stormwater improvements, Smith said funds were released from the state through the town’s grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). As such, he commenting on it being an aggressive schedule, work has been slated to start in August and be completed by October.

On wastewater coming from Lieber State Recreation Area, Smith noted point repairs on the town’s sewer side being complete with lining taking place. A forced main along State Road 243 connecting to the town has been installed, while remaining work on the park’s lift stations is being done.

• Town Manager Jason Hartman updated that concrete for the new basketball court at the town’s park is to be poured soon. The project is anticipated to be complete by this month’s end.

Relatedly, the council approved an invoice of $5,813.81 for new hoops to be installed.

• With the time now here for the 2025 budget to be hashed out, Maners announced that a public hearing is set for the council’s Sept. 10 meeting, while the adoption is set for the Oct. 8 meeting.

Howell and Tancak volunteered to participate in discussions that will take place before the meetings.

• Happy that there was “a small handful” interested after having none beforehand, Tancak appointed Lisa Quiett to the town’s board of zoning appeals.

• After two months of consideration, the council moved on repairing a dump truck with the cost not to exceed $12,500. Councilman Larry Fidler opposed the vote, while Howell abstained due to a conflict of interest with a quote that was secured for a new vehicle.

Howell was adamant about a lease option being “flat-out ignorant,” given interest that would be tacked on. Instead, he advocated that the truck be repaired and used for a year, while the town can figure budgeting for a new one.

The repair was determined at $11,900 for “deleting” the EGR cooler and replacing a blown head gasket, as well as replacing both heads. The limit was intended to cover unexpected issues.

“I’m glad that’s over, for the record,” Tancak said after the vote.

• Being “perfect timing” for it and Hartman, the council heard from resident Rick Baldwin about removing abandoned railroad tracks that cross through Robert Weist Avenue.

The query brought up a longstanding issue between the town and CSX, which owns the tracks. This is as others that were part of the line have been removed.

CSX has refused consideration of releasing the tracks, while Hartman communicated with the company just on Monday. The town has also petitioned the Department of Transportation to no avail.

As a “second-ditch effort,” Tancak said a partnership of sorts with CSX is being pursued to make the area useful for the town, in which the crossing in question could be taken out.

“We all hear you, because those tracks are very rough,” Tancak told Baldwin. “We’re trying.”

Greg Jay and Scott Stierwalt rounded out the whole council attending the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is set for Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Cloverdale Town Hall.