Adams County supervisors authorize public adjuster for storm claims, commit funds to fire truck grant and hear hospital-billing concerns

Adams County supervisors approved several administrative and recovery actions and heard public comment on hospital billing practices during their regular meeting, including authorization for a public adjuster to pursue insurance recovery for storm damage and a county commitment to match a volunteer fire truck grant.

The board voted to authorize a letter of representation for Public Adjuster, Inc. to investigate and submit a single insurance claim covering multiple county locations damaged in recent storms. The board directed the county attorney to review the public adjuster contract and indicated the firm—s fee will be 10 percent of any recovery. Public adjuster Neil Levitt told the board the preliminary inspection found "substantial damages that would be, you know, in my opinion, covered under the policy." The motion passed after a second and a vote recorded as "motion carried." The board directed staff to review the firm—s contract language before final execution.

The board also committed up to $50,000 as a local match if the county receives a federal Rural Fire Truck Acquisition grant (Rural 552 program) to replace or add a volunteer fire truck. County staff said the grant would allow procurement of a new apparatus at roughly $80,200 total cost with a local share expected around $27,000 in the example discussed; supervisors approved putting the commitment on record so the department can proceed with quotes and grant paperwork.

On infrastructure and storm-recovery finance, supervisors authorized submission and signing of a final Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) reimbursement request totaling $110,775.66 for one project, part of a $367,651.04 total reimbursement for that EWP work. The board also authorized staff to request quotes…