Daniels County agrees to pursue insurance claim for sheriff’s vehicle, approves agent commission

Daniels County commissioners on Aug. 19 voted to accept an insurance agent commission arrangement described in submitted paperwork and to pursue an insurance claim after a county sheriff vehicle was reportedly sideswiped.

County staff briefed the commission on the incident, saying a 2022 Daniels County Sheriff Office Ford Explorer was sideswiped during a traffic stop involving a driver identified in the report as Todd Nelson and that the county is awaiting the highway-control report. Staff explained the county may submit the claim and pursue subrogation against the other party’s insurer; if recovery is obtained the county’s deductible would be reimbursed.

Commissioners then moved and seconded two actions: to accept the agent at a 133% commission as indicated in the paperwork and to move forward with the insurance claim on the sheriff’s vehicle. Both motions were approved with no recorded opposition.

Staff noted that small-property claims under certain thresholds are handled in a particular manner and referenced existing deductibles for other county matters: for example, a different property claim (motor grader into equipment) carries a $2,000 deductible, while a civil-liability matter cited elsewhere carries a $5,000 deductible. The county will await the highway-control report and pursue subrogation through the insurer identified in the incident documentation.

The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes beyond the standard “all those in favor” voice vote; no commissioner publicly opposed the motions. The county staff said they would continue follow-up work on the claim and on contacting the other carrier.