Dodge County’s executive committee approved insurance renewals effective July 1 after a presentation from broker Robertson Ryan that described a constrained marketplace for several lines, exposure increases at Clearview Healthcare Center and higher reported vehicle values.

Robertson Ryan representatives said markets are thin for municipal healthcare liability and that Clearview’s increase in skilled-care beds and average occupied beds raised underwriting exposure. Bill Evans of Robertson Ryan told the committee, “The marketplace here is extremely limited,” and warned that those market constraints help explain premium increases.

County staff and brokers walked the committee through each renewal line. Highlights provided to the committee included:

• Storage tanks: Renewal with Mid-Continent (environmental impairment) maintained $1 million per-incident limits with a $25,000 deductible; premium rose roughly $278, attributed to aging tanks and inflation.

• Clearview Healthcare Center: Underlying general liability limits remain $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate; professional liability is included at the same thresholds. The county added a $3 million umbrella policy in December and retains that $3 million umbrella for now. Brokers said the number of skilled-care beds reported was up 24% and average occupied beds were up about 29.8%, which increases exposure and contributes to a higher premium at renewal. Brokers recommended monitoring occupancy and staffing as factors for future renewals.

• Auto physical damage: Coverage is on a scheduled basis with replacement-cost terms for vehicles seven model years old or newer and a $10,000 deductible applied per occurrence (not per vehicle). County vehicle values reported to the insurer rose about 14 percent; the renewal rate rose roughly 7 percent and the county’s total premium for auto physical damage increased as part of a broader 21 percent change cited for that line, driven primarily by higher vehicle values and additions to the fleet. The county’s practice is to insure vehicles with original cost above certain thresholds and model years under seven to control premium costs.

• Property: The Municipal Property Insurance Company (MPIC) renewal showed building values up about 2 percent and a premium increase of about 4.8 percent; after accounting for value growth, the effective rate increase was roughly 2.8 percent. Brokers emphasized that MPIC remains more competitive than commercial carriers and provides broad coverages, including builders’ risk for projects up to $2.5 million in many cases.

Overall, Robertson Ryan summarized the July renewals as an approximate 11.2 percent increase in annualized insurance costs compared with last year, with percentage changes varying by line and much of the change explained by increased reported values and constrained market capacity for certain products.

Committee members also asked about the county’s response to tornado-related claims. County staff reported active coordination with MPIC and contractor Paul Davis; an adjuster visited within roughly 24 hours and recovery work is underway. Staff said MPIC and its partners have been responsive and that claims activity to date appears to be moving through the process.

Supervisor Beals moved to approve the July 1 renewals; Supervisor Stager seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote.