photo by Hannah Vickery
The Bradley County Commission discussed the current workers’ compensation insurance policy on Monday night. The policy covers Bradley County government workers.
Before the district representatives settled into conversation about insurance policies, they first summarized the 1.8% budget increase in the general fund. The increase includes items such as the appraisal program which jumps up every four years, the justice center, and a decrease in funds for the sheriff’s department.
There will be budget hearings three weeks from Monday night’s meeting. The commission also agreed to put conversation on next week’s agenda about completing a cement parking lot at the Inman Street fire station. The parking lot would help with problems relating to tunnels that run underneath the station.
For the main presentation, district seven representative Mark Hall invited agents from Colonial Life Insurance Company to address concerns about the workers’ compensation policy.
So far this year, the county has sustained 38 claims and the county is already in the negative for paying out claims. Over the past nine years, two of those years raised the total of claims made by government employees of Bradley County.
In order to figure out where the issue is in the compensation policy, the agents recommended an analyzation of which departments are utilizing the insurance and where any repetitive claims have been filed. In addition, district representatives discussed staying on top of accidents and procedures to avoid accidents.
The agents reassured the commission that claims are monitored from submission until closure.
Gary Davis, county mayor, took time to explain state law regarding workers’ compensation insurance. State law dictates what is covered with insurance in the case of an accident while on the job.
After discussion on insurance concerns ceased, the commission moved forward to put a reminder to look at the current asset policy on next week’s agenda.
For more information about the Bradley County Commission, visit www.bradleyco.net/ccomm_districts.aspx.