County staff presented a detailed comparison of insurance renewal options, and commissioners pressed for clarity on workers' compensation payroll bases, experience modification metrics and coverage differences between proposals.

Angela Johnston, who prepared schedules for the commission, said the KWORK (K Camp/K Works as referenced in materials) proposal appeared to be calculated on a lower payroll basis and did not include the county’s experience modification factor in its initial figure. She and other staff projected that including an experience modification (discussed in the packet as ~1.45) and a more current payroll estimate would raise the premium and reduce the apparent savings compared with the Travelers quote. Commissioners and staff cautioned that joining a pool at a low initial premium can create assessment risk later if actual claims require additional contributions; staff said Travelers will perform a payroll audit in March that could adjust final premiums.

Staff also called out material coverage differences: Travelers’ auto policy includes uninsured motorist limits reported as high as $1 million, while K Camp’s quote listed a $75,000 UIM limit for medical; staff asked K Camp/agents to confirm UIM scope and whether equipment and ambulance exposures are fully covered. Staff said malpractice coverage exists for county employees such as nurses and EMTs but not for independent doctors or contractor physicians, who must carry their own coverage.

Late in the work session staff raised a separate governance concern: a taxpayer notified staff that the county treasurer distributed printed 'payment under protest' forms and labels advising taxpayers how to challenge the county’s asserted revenue-neutral rate. Transcript remarks quote the treasurer’s material as stating the county lacked authority to exceed the revenue-neutral rate for tax year 2025 and referring to KSA 79-29-88 and Article 11, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution. County legal counsel said the treasurer did not consult counsel before distributing the materials and warned the handout’s language may not be factually accurate and could expose the county to legal risk. Counsel urged the public be given complete and factual information about the Board of Tax Appeals process and refund eligibility, noting that any successful finding of a violation would affect all taxpayers, not only those who file a protest.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm policy details, request certificates and clarifications from carriers, and said they would ask carriers for corrected bids or explanations (KWORK re-ran a bid during the day). The item was not decided at the work session; staff were directed to obtain clarifying documentation for the evening meeting.