By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the regular meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council on Sept. 9, City Clerk Kris Arrasmith offered a suggestion regarding the city’s Park and Recreation board. She explained that the board basically only deals with two activities: the aquatic center and the city’s “peewee” baseball/softball leagues. She went on to explain that since the peewee leagues have now been split off as “clubs,” they are no longer under city control, so she suggested changing the Park and Rec board into an “aquatic center committee” that would manage operations of the pool. She said it might be easier to fill such a committee with family members who have kids involved in swimming. The consensus of the council was to move forward with this plan.
Rod Rumelhart, representing EMC Insurance, addressed the council regarding the city’s property coverage.
“I think you will be happy with this renewal,” Rumelhart said. “The state of Iowa is still reeling with property coverage all over.”
He went on to explain that some insurers are refusing to continue covering properties in Iowa, due to severe wind events in recent years. He said for those insurers who are still offering such coverage, premiums and/or deductibles are going up steeply. He explained that because the city is “pooled” with all other cities in Iowa, that helps control the fluctuations, so the city’s premium increase is not nearly as much as he had feared. Arrasmith agreed, saying she had budgeted for a larger increase than Rumelhart presented.
Rumelhart explained the new deductibles and offered the city an option to purchase additional coverage (through another company) to “buy down” the deductibles. The option he mentioned would cost an additional $12,400 per year. Arrasmith pointed out that the city has a reserve built up that would help in case of catastrophic loss. After discussion, the council approved the coverage through EMC but did not opt for the “buy down” at this time. Council members suggested asking the Utilities Board for their opinion.
Liquor permits were approved for Tori’s Angel’s Foundation and for Guthrie County Quality Meats.
Building/fence permits were approved for 105 North 12th St. (portable shed, Clark) and 602 State St. (fence, Bates).
The next regular meeting of the council is set for Monday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.
