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Bonner County approves self-insured retention liability package, boosts cyber coverage; property renewal also approved
Summary
Bonner County commissioners voted Sept. 23 to approve a $739,452 self-insured retention liability insurance package brokered by Redmond Insurance and to renew property insurance with Farm Bureau, while agreeing to increase the county’s cyber liability limit to $3 million.
Bonner County commissioners voted Sept. 23 to approve a countywide self-insured retention (SIR) liability insurance program and related policies brokered by Redmond Insurance, and to renew the county’s property insurance with Farm Bureau.
The board approved purchase of an insurance package totaling $739,452 covering casualty, crime, aviation, auto, inmate medical, cyber, equipment breakdown, inland marine and terrorism lines. County risk manager Christian Jocelyn described the renewal as coming in about 13% higher than last year but well under a worst-case budget projection; he and Redmond representatives highlighted proactive work that reduced the expected increase.
The county accepted a recommendation to increase the cyber liability limit from $1 million to $3 million to match a national trend of rising cyber incidents. Jocelyn said the county’s IT team has prevented incidents to date but that higher limits were “prudent” given regional attacks on municipalities. Jordan Redmond of Redmond Insurance and Nicole Wilson, the account representative, told commissioners the portfolio and limits reflected the county’s exposures and the broker’s market strategy.
Commissioners discussed specific coverages during a lengthy public staff presentation. Redmond said the Obsidian policy structure provides $10 million limits on individual lines, avoiding a separate excess layer. The renewal package also included an inmate-medical billing review option (about $23,776 within the package). Jocelyn explained the program reimburses the county for inpatient medical costs above $50,000 per inmate and performs billing review to reduce charges; he said the sheriff’s office has in-house capability but recommended continuing the vendor service while the county handles claims management improvements.
The board asked about carve-outs the county requested during underwriting. Redmond confirmed the carrier agreed to include coverage for the county’s overseas-attorney exposure and for sheriff’s drone operations at no additional premium. Commissioners and staff also discussed improvements in claims management and training as part of the county’s SIR strategy.
Separately, the board approved renewing property insurance with Farm Bureau at $238,975, down from $246,728 the prior year. Jocelyn noted the county continues to insure a broad listing of county-owned properties, including some facilities the county does not operate directly; he recommended a future review of property ownership and which buildings the county should retain on its policy to reduce premiums. Commissioners asked staff to produce a property inventory and ownership review before next renewal.
The board’s approvals were made by roll call vote. Commissioners thanked Redmond for early work on renewals that helped the clerk’s office prepare a realistic budget estimate.
