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Committee approves ordinance changes clarifying volunteer medical benefit reserve and insurance coverage
Summary
The Finance Committee approved amendments to the county code removing the Wellness Council reference and adjusting property/risk insurance fund language; members clarified volunteer medical benefits are covered from a $250,000 reserve, with WEMIC handling civil liability claims and an example per-occurrence cap discussed.
The Walworth County Finance Committee on Thursday approved ordinance changes that remove a reference to the county Wellness Council and adjust language about the property and risk insurance fund’s minimum net position balance.
The committee approved two related ordinance items (both listed as ordinance number 4-25 in the agenda): one removing the Wellness Council reference from section 30-182 so the human resources department will continue employee wellness activities, and another amending how the property and risk insurance fund’s minimum net position balance is described, including a clarified reserve for volunteer medical expenses.
Why it matters: The changes shift operational wording in the county code and clarify how the county funds volunteer medical benefits and death benefits.
Committee discussion focused on volunteer coverage. A committee member asked whether volunteers are insured or if the county self-insures; county staff explained, “We are self insuring it. So we have a $250,000 that we keep in reserves for payments to any medical, volunteer expense payments that we have.” Staff further distinguished the volunteer medical/death benefit reserve from liability coverage, saying that civil liability claims would be covered by WEMIC (the county’s liability insurer). Staff summarized coverage limits by example: volunteer medical and death-benefit payments serve as out-of-pocket reimbursements (for example, to cover high deductibles), and there is a per-occurrence cap for some benefits.
Motion details: The committee voted to approve the ordinance amendments.
What happens next: The ordinance amendments will follow the county’s normal ordinance adoption process. Staff said WEMIC would be the source for civil-liability coverage in the event of a lawsuit; the $250,000 reserve covers volunteer medical expenses and death benefits as an internal county fund.
Ending: Supervisors approved the changes after questions about the limits and interaction with WEMIC; staff agreed to provide additional detail if needed at future meetings.
