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County packet includes proposed HomeServe marketing agreement that would allow use of Richmond County logo and customer data
Summary
A proposed three-year marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners/HomeServe would license Richmond County’s marks for utility service-line warranty marketing, permit optional customer data sharing, and pay the county 10% of member fees; the document raises data-sharing and oversight questions.
A draft marketing agreement between Richmond County and Utility Service Partners Private Label (doing business as Service Line Warranties of America/HomeServe) in the meeting packet would license the county’s logo and name for marketing and set a 10% license fee on member revenues, according to the contract text presented to the Board.
The contract packet, introduced to the board by Public Works Director Jerry Austin and a HomeServe representative, states: "County grants to SLWA the right to offer and market service Plans subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement." It also allows the county, if it elects, to provide customer data including names and addresses to SLWA for marketing purposes and incorporates a data processing addendum by reference.
The agreement’s term sheet describes an initial three-year term with automatic one-year renewals; a license fee equal to "Ten percent (10%) of the fees actually received from Members"; and sample plan fees (initially $6.99/month for exterior water service, $8.49/month for exterior sewer/septic, and $9.99/month for interior plumbing) and stated coverage caps. Exhibit A in the packet permits up to three marketing campaigns per year.
County officials who presented the item emphasized that the program is a private, opt-in warranty between homeowners and HomeServe and that the county would not perform repairs or process claims. The contract text includes provisions for mutual trademark use approvals, data protections, an incorporated Data Processing Addendum, an audit right, indemnification, and a 60-day termination-for-convenience window after the first year.
The packet does not include a recorded motion on final board action in the transcript excerpts; the agreement was provided as an item for the board’s consideration and the Board was asked to "listen to presentation." The contract language gives the county the option to supply customer contact data to the vendor if it chooses; it also requires the county to warrant that any provided customer data were collected in compliance with applicable law. The agreement further gives SLWA contractual rights to complete marketing activities approved before a termination and allows SLWA to use the county marks in marketing materials subject to county review.
Next steps noted in the packet were for the board to authorize the agreement; the packet does not include a recorded vote or final approval in the excerpted transcript. Board members did not speak at length in the provided segments. Additional committee or public review, or redlines to the contract language, were not recorded in the packet text.
