North Platte council approves new workers’ compensation carrier, extends property-insurance deal with LARM

The North Platte City Council approved a one-year workers’ compensation policy with Missouri Employers Mutual and adopted a three-year property and liability agreement with the Nebraska Association of Risk Managers (LARM) on Tuesday.

City staff told the council the switch in workers’ compensation carriers would likely save the city “over $400,000 for a one-year term.” City staff presented two bids for workers’ compensation and recommended Missouri Employers Mutual through HUB Insurance. "This would be the first change we've made in our worker's compensation carrier in probably 30 years," a staff member said during the meeting.

Council members then debated terms of the property and liability arrangement with LARM. Councilmember Volz moved, and Councilmember Lucas seconded, an amendment to require a 180‑day notice-of-nonrenewal, a three‑year commitment, and a 5% discount. Tracy, a LARM representative at the meeting, said, "If you did sign up for the 3 year and 5% discount this year ... we consider that a binding contract." After discussion the council approved the agreement as amended.

Nut graf: The insurance decisions revise long‑standing coverage and lock in short‑term budget savings while adding contractual commitments. The workers’ compensation change shifts a long‑standing carrier and the LARM agreement ties the city to a stepped discount structure the council said it would monitor.

Council members and staff emphasized operational details. Staff said the workers’ compensation policy will be handled through a local agent (HUB Insurance). On the LARM agreement, council members questioned the discount ladder and whether the 5% incentive would persist if the city went back out to bid; the LARM representative explained how the discount steps down in subsequent years if members later bid out.

The motions: Councilmember Reeker moved approval of the consent motion to accept both insurance procurements as recommended; individual motions were moved and seconded on the floor. The council recorded passage of both items during the meeting. The city will proceed to execute the one-year Missouri Employers Mutual workers’ compensation policy effective 10/01/2025 and execute the LARM property and liability agreement with the amended 180‑day notice and a three‑year term with a 5% first-year discount.

Ending: Staff will return if financing or further procedural steps are required; the city auditor and budget staff will track the one‑time savings reported for the 2025–26 fiscal year.