North Park volunteers ask Ohio County Fiscal Court to recognize subcommittee so members can obtain insurance coverage

Shelly Castile, representing the North Park Improvement Committee, asked the Ohio County Fiscal Court on May 20 to appoint the volunteer group as a subcommittee of Ohio County Resources Inc. so its volunteers could be covered under the county’s insurance.

Castile said the committee has 11–12 volunteers, most of whom are local business owners, and that the group has struggled to secure independent liability coverage. “We would like to protect them with personal liability coverage,” she said. Castile described recent volunteer activity including a community survey that produced about 318 responses, a park cleanup with 30 volunteers and an Easter egg hunt attended by about 400 people that raised $2,600.

Court members discussed the legal and insurance questions and said the county attorney and staff would research whether the committee could be recognized as an advisory committee or by resolution so that existing county insurance could cover its activities. One court member said similar arrangements exist for other community park groups in the county and suggested a resolution or ordinance might be needed to formalize the relationship.

Castile outlined the committee’s plans for future events, including a July 19 fireworks event supported by a $6,000 donation from Fordsville and other fundraising efforts to replace playground equipment, build a pavilion, improve lighting and expand programming on the 20-acre park. The court agreed to draft language for consideration and said it would return with a proposed resolution for the court to review.