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Morrow County adopts contractor insurance policy, eases burden on park hosts
Summary
The Morrow County Board of Commissioners adopted policy R-2026-4 establishing minimum insurance requirements for contractors. After debate about impacts on fair vendors and seasonal camp hosts, commissioners approved a reimbursement and administrative assistance approach for certain park-host insurance costs.
Morrow County commissioners voted to adopt a new risk-management policy (R-2026-4) that sets minimum insurance standards for contractors and non-county service providers working on county property.
Risk-management staff told the board the goal is to create consistent, predictable standards so the county’s risk posture is not set by ad hoc contract language. Staff noted the absence of a formal policy previously had produced inconsistent liability exposure across projects.
Commissioners spent more than an hour questioning how the rule would affect small local contractors. Commissioner Matt (first name used in the transcript) and others raised concerns that a strict requirement for commercial general liability would exclude part-time park hosts, local fair vendors and small performers who do not carry CGL coverage. Parks staff described examples where part-time camp hosts would face up-front insurance costs of roughly $800 per season that could make the role financially untenable.
Several commissioners said they supported the policy’s underlying risk rationale but wanted practical exceptions. The board adopted the policy and directed staff to return with recommended exception parameters. In addition, the board approved a motion to provide reimbursement and administrative assistance to park hosts for insurance costs, with funding to come primarily from the county’s general fund to avoid unduly harming small, seasonal contractors.
Speaking for risk staff, Kevin (risk/procurement) described a conservative approach to protecting county exposure but acknowledged the need to balance administrative practicality and small contractor viability. Parks staff noted that permanent hosts could absorb costs under a $5-per-day rate already in place, but temporary backups could not.
The board’s action installs clear minimum insurance requirements while creating a process for class-based exemptions and targeted county support to help long-standing, low-revenue local contractors remain eligible to serve county events and facilities. The board asked staff to draft precise exemption thresholds and a process (including possible class exemptions for fair vendors and other community-oriented events) for future adoption.
