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Scofield residents raise concerns about proposed leak-insurance plan and opt-out sign-up
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Summary
At a Feb. 9 Scofield town hearing, residents and council members discussed a vendor proposal to offer low-cost insurance covering high water bills from leaks. Concerns centered on an opt-out enrollment model, overlap with homeowners—overage and limited vendor outreach; the town will seek more information before acting.
Scofield residents and town officials discussed a proposal Feb. 9 to offer low-cost insurance to cover large water bills from plumbing and service-line leaks, but concerns over an "opt-out" enrollment model and overlaps with existing homeowners policies left the town without a decision.
Speaker 2, who opened the hearing, said the meeting was a chance to get public feedback on whether the town should pursue an insurance option to cover "high bills from leaks, from faucets, plumbing, toilets, etcetera." He summarized the vendor's pricing as roughly $1.75 per month for $500 of per-occurrence coverage, $2.00 per month for $1,000, and $2.35 per month for $2,500.
"It's a opt out rather than an opt in, and nobody seemed to want to to go that route," Speaker 2 said, voicing the principal concern raised repeatedly during the hearing. Residents warned that an opt-out default could enroll property owners who forget to decline the plan within the vendor's stated 60-day window.
Several participants urged caution about vendor practices and coverage limits. "I don't want them," Speaker 3 said, adding simply, "I don't trust them," reflecting mistrust among some attendees about company behavior on claims or future pricing.
Speakers also discussed overlap with existing insurance. Speaker 3 noted some homeowners policies include a "service line endorsement" and excavation costs; he cited a Salt Lake example with excavation coverage around $5,000. That prompted questions about whether the town-plan would duplicate benefits some residents already have.
The vendor HomeServe was mentioned as an individually purchasable option; Speaker 3 described it as similar to a home warranty and said some residents can buy that coverage themselves rather than participate in a town-facilitated plan. Speaker 2 said the town had been approached by one entity (transcript references "Servant"/"Servlone") and that Janelle from rural water would look for other providers.
Town leaders described next steps as exploratory. Speaker 2 said staff would invite the vendor to a Zoom meeting and that rural water would research alternatives before the town pursues any contractual arrangement. No ordinance or contract was adopted; the hearing closed after a motion and voice vote at 6:34 p.m.
The town will gather more information on vendor options, enrollment mechanics (opt-in versus opt-out), and potential overlap with existing homeowner policies before returning to the public or taking formal action.