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Insurance agent flags rodeo additional-insured charge, urges lease reviews after coverage gaps found
Summary
The county’s insurance agent told commissioners that the rodeo association’s requirement to be named as an additional insured cost the fairgrounds about $6,000 last year and that the county is still insuring a vacated public defender building with more than $3 million in coverage; he urged closer lease and building-walkthrough coordination.
John Getty, Kootenai County’s insurance agent, briefed the Board of Commissioners on May 6 about a small set of insurance issues that county departments should coordinate to avoid repeat costs.
Getty told the board that the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) requires sanctioning agreements that name PRCA as an additional insured. He said the county’s risk pool would not add PRCA as an additional insured and that this requirement cost the fairgrounds about $6,000 last year. "The rodeo, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association requires that they be named as an additional insured," Getty said, adding that the county-paid cost for that requirement last year was roughly $6,000.
Getty said he tried to explain the county’s insurer’s position to the rodeo organizers last year but they did not accept the explanation. He said fairgrounds staff had started looking at other carriers acceptable to rodeo organizers but ran short of time before the event.
Getty also told commissioners he is reviewing leases after discovering the county continues to carry insurance for a building the public defender no longer occupies. He said the county was insuring contents or property valued at "a little over $3,000,000" for a location that is no longer occupied by the public defender’s office and characterized that as wasted coverage. Getty asked to be included earlier in lease reviews so he can catch coverage needs before they become expenses.
Commissioners asked how to prevent such oversights. Getty suggested regular engagement with elected officials and department heads, attending the county’s elected-official meetings to raise insurance issues, and reviewing lease insurance provisions during the contract process. He also proposed walk-throughs with county staff to verify contents and building occupancy for accurate coverage.
Getty said he and staff will walk through the old sheriff’s office campus to update content inventories, and he will coordinate with county staff to set up recurring check-ins so departments notify insurance staff of moves or lease changes.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the report. Commissioners instructed staff to improve coordination so the insurance agent can be informed of moves and lease changes and to return with recommendations if changes to carriers or endorsements are required.
