MOPERM is expanding coverage

Mississippi County News

CHARLESTON - MOPERM - the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund - is expanding their coverage lines.

MOPERM has provided liability insurance protection to Missouri public entities for over 16 years, according to a letter from MOPERM's executive director, David V. Kormann.

Mississippi County commissioners reviewed the letter during their regular meeting Thursday.

The expanded coverage lines "will create a more comprehensive insurance package for Missouri public entities," Kormann writes in the letter.

Coverage under the expanded lines will be effective beginning July 1. "MOPERM has begun accepting submissions for Real/Personal property; Boiler and Machinery; and Fidelity and Crime coverage," Kormann continues.

"It's going to be marketed through independent agents," said County Clerk Junior DeLay, noting that the county has always gone through an agent for MOPERM with the current MOPERM policy being through Coon Insurance.

Hartford provides the county's property coverage right now, DeLay said. Mississippi County is on a calendar year, so at the end of the year officials will seek new price quotes and options.

"They are now the seventh-largest public entity provider in the U.S. by the number of members," DeLay said. "Apparently they think they'll be competitive."

In other Mississippi County news:

* The county's Local Emergency Operating Plan will be updated and revised with State Emergency Management Agency grant money, according to officials.

Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said SEMA will be adding a terrorism section to the plan along with general updates including current contact people.

DeLay said the state contracted with Louis Berger Group, Inc., of Kansas City to update the LEOP.

Officials estimated the plan was last updated in 1998.

* The irrigation well for the county-maintained Oak Grove Cemetery has been dug, according to Blumenberg. They now need to pour a concrete pad for the pump house.

Blumenberg said they will replace the old flag pole with the new one early next week.