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COMMISSIONERS’ MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM via WEBEX <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />HR STUDY SESSION <br />Director Goeben also requested approval to use the 3% departments were asked to submit as cuts to <br />pay for a fiber optic connection to splice in fiber access points along county provisioned Zayo fiber, <br />including Fire Station 9 for a county EOC. Commissioner Wachsmith responded that the Board’s <br />request that departments submit 3% expense reductions was just a budget exercise, and that no <br />direction was given to actually cut budgets by 3%. Commissioner Osiadacz confirmed that was her <br />understanding as well. Director Goeben will move forward with the fiber optic connection. <br />DISCUSSION/DECISION – SALARY COMMITTEE – EXPIRING TERMS <br />Director Young advised the Board that three Elected Official Salary Committee member terms are <br />expiring soon and requested direction on whether or not the Board wished to continue an active Salary <br />Committee, or deactivate it and reimplement the committee when there is a need in the future. <br />Commissioner Wachsmith commented that he is in favor of reactivating the committee when there is a <br />future need. Commissioner Osiadacz agreed. Director Young will update BOCC Staff on the decision. <br />RISK MANAGEMENT UPDATE – 1) UPCOMING CHANGES TO COVERAGE; 2) 2020-2021 RATE ESTIMATES <br />Director Young summarized that due to COVID-19, nationwide changes to insurance coverage are taking <br />place which will include some exclusions related to COVID-type illnesses. She advised that the County <br />has no control over these changes as they are dictated by the insurance companies that provide our <br />reinsurance and excess insurance. The new exclusion will include communicable disease as well as <br />other viral, bacterial, or microorganism-related illnesses. In addition to things like COVID-19, this may <br />include claims related to food- and water-borne illnesses; however, the Risk Pool will likely be <br />implementing a layer of self-insurance to cover up to $1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate for such <br />claims in the 2020-2021 Memorandum of Liability Coverage. She stated that she did not anticipate a <br />significant risk as we’ve not had related claims in the past, but it would be a good opportunity to have <br />Public Health review their policies and procedures. She will keep the Board updated as she learns <br />more. <br />Director Young also advised that the anticipated estimate for premium increases are 3% for liability <br />coverage and 18% for property insurance, noting that the property insurance increase consists of <br />approximately 12% in premium cost and a 6% increase in Total Insured Value. She stated that the initial <br />estimate for the property program was closer to 30%, and that property rates have been increasing <br />nationwide due to the increase losses due to catastrophic events like hurricanes and wildfires, and not <br />necessarily tied to local events/losses. The Brokers are still working with the insurers so the numbers <br />aren’t final yet, but she will keep the Board updated. <br />OTHER BUSINESS <br />Commissioner Wachsmith questioned the impact that fall school closures might have on employees and <br />whether the Board should address this issue. Director Young reminded the Board that she conducted a <br />survey in March to determine the number of employees who may be affected by school and daycare <br />closures. She offered to conduct a follow up survey to capture any updated information and impacts to