Trinity County to seek options to extend liability coverage for volunteers at county-owned community buildings

Jeffrey Anderson, representing the Friday Community Center, asked the Trinity County Commissioners Court to clarify whether county insurance covers volunteers and board officers who run county-owned community buildings and to seek options if it does not.

"I asked y'all a question… I understand it doesn't cover any people," Anderson said during public comment, noting the building was signed over to local use in 1993 but remains county property. He told commissioners that board members and volunteers lack funds to defend lawsuits and asked the court to help identify whether the county could extend coverage or obtain a pooled policy to protect small community centers.

County staff and commissioners discussed the issue on the record. A county staff member identified in the discussion as Rebecca said the court’s current policy covers county employees but does not, as written, specifically cover volunteer board members or non‑employee volunteers who run county-owned facilities. Another attendee suggested that many general liability policies allow an addendum to cover volunteers and guests; the attendee said the addendum can include limits “up to a million dollars” in some cases.

Commissioners asked staff to contact the county insurer and obtain firm options and cost estimates. One commissioner summarized the direction: to table agenda item 14 and return with quotes and written options for extending liability coverage to board members and volunteers. Rebecca agreed to research the insurer’s offerings and present hard numbers at a future docket.

Why it matters: several small community groups manage century‑old county buildings and rely on volunteers and board officers to maintain operations. Without explicit coverage, volunteers who perform official duties may face personal exposure if an injury leads to litigation.

Next steps: the court tabled item 14 pending staff outreach to the insurer and requested that staff return with written quotes and recommended contract language or addenda to clarify coverage for volunteer board members and other non‑employee volunteers.