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Chippewa County board approves appointments, hears insurance orientation from WHIMC and EMPIC
Summary
The county board approved the chair’s committee appointments (20‑0) and administrator appointments (19‑1 abstain) and received a multi‑agency insurance briefing on WHIMC’s pooled liability and EMPIC property coverage, claims handling, and member risk‑management services.
The Chippewa County Board took two formal votes during its orientation meeting and received a substantive briefing on the county’s insurance arrangements.
The board approved the chair’s appointments to committees by voice vote with 20 supervisors in favor and no recorded opposition. The board later approved the administrator’s appointments as a block with a recorded vote of 19 yes and one abstention.
Between motions, representatives of Wisconsin Municipal Mutual Insurance Company (WHIMK/WHIMC) explained the county’s role as a member‑owner of a mutual risk pool, the use of self‑insured retentions (the county’s example was described as a $200,000 SIR), and layered reinsurance arrangements that extend member protection through multiple layers up to $15 million. Jacqueline Call (WHIM operations lead) described claims‑handling protocols, statutory notice timelines (120 days for some claims), and the defense/settlement authority reserved by the insurer under policy terms.
Brian Bergman of EMPIC summarized property‑insurance services, appraisal cycles (Chippewa’s first appraisal was 2018; the county was appraised again in 2024 and the next scheduled appraisal is 2029), and complementary services such as an online portal for property listings and boiler‑inspection tracking. WHIM/C staff also noted a new partnership fund providing members with risk‑management dollars (the presentation cited $16,500 per member for risk‑management projects this year).
Supervisors asked questions about coverage scope, competitor options in the market, and how WHIM/EMPIC differ from traditional carriers. Presenters emphasized member engagement, competitive pricing driven by retained surplus, and the value of member‑owned governance.
What happened procedurally: the motions to approve appointments were passed as recorded; no new insurance contracts were approved at the meeting. The orientation provided supervisors with information about claims processes, immunity and notice statutes, and resources available for loss‑reduction investments.
