Risk management: HoJ North Steerwell reopens; county reports fewer open workers’‑comp claims

Shelley Pierce, Cowlitz County risk manager, and Scott Killeen, risk analyst, briefed the board on risk‑management operations, workers’‑comp claims and tort/ liability accounts.

Shelley Pierce announced that “HoJ North Steerwell, as of December 9th, is now open for use.” She also said abatement and remediation of the annex building began last week and that access and alarm codes have been changed while hazardous‑material mitigation work proceeds; the annex is vacant except for the remediation contractor.

Scott Killeen presented workers’‑comp numbers: as of Jan. 2, the county had eight open claims (six from 2024, two from prior years). He said staff had closed multiple older claims in December and that the average days‑to‑close had fallen from roughly 148 days (2020) to about 104 days in the latest reporting — and would be closer to roughly 70 days after closing two longer‑running claims. Killeen described the county’s third‑party claims administrator’s role in estimating reserves and said estimated outstanding liabilities fluctuate as claims close.

Shelley Pierce described the structure of the county’s risk funds and explained that one timing issue this year was a change in the Washington Counties Risk Pool billing cycle; an October billing that covered a longer period increased near‑term expenditures and will be adjusted via accruals.

On tort and liability claims, staff said December closed several matters and that older claims remain under active management. Pierce said the county will continue monthly meetings with the risk pool and quarterly briefings to the full board to keep commissioners informed.

Ending

Staff will continue active claim management and monthly risk‑pool coordination; the annex remediation is under way and HoJ North Steerwell is open.