Chrisman residents to see bill increase in January
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The meeting of the Chrisman City Council held on December 19th began with Lucas Knight from Knight Insurance going over the city’s insurance policy renewal. Knight handed out packets to the members of the council to look over as he went through the numbers.
Knight stated that the policy was the same that it has been in the past and thanked the council for their continued support throughout the years. He went on to thank all of the councilmen for serving the city as well.
“I do believe that it’s warranted and there’s a lot of people that appreciate you being on this board,” Knight said.
The city currently has a one million dollar general liability occurrence plan with a three million dollar aggregate with a zero deductible. Employees benefits are also at one million dollars in case someone happened to get hurt on the job.
The council is also covered in the ‘Public Officials Wrongful Acts Liability’ to the tune of one million dollars. “That would be if you guys would make a decision and it would go sideways, we’ll cover you,” Knight said. “But there’s a twenty-five hundred dollar deductible on that.”
Under the employee practices liability insurance, this covers the city if an employee would do something in the wrong, they would be covered.
The police force is also covered with a one million dollar policy. “In case on of your officers would happen to make a mistake, there’s a million dollars worth of liability with a twenty-five hundred dollar deductible,” Knight said.
In total, the city is covered up to three million dollars.
With property, the city currently has what is called a blanket coverage in the amount of $3,992,557. “This is on all the buildings and property that we insure,” Knight said. The new lift station is yet to be added to this policy. “I’m assuming that’s not going to be very cheap.”
The company Burnham and Flower has been with the city for many years and was chosen by Knight Insurance to give them the best form of insurance. “I would never put you with a company that wouldn’t have coverage like this.”
Knight told the council to get with their departments to let him know of any changes that would need made before the deadline to sign up for the policy, which falls on January 10, 2023. “People will trade a mower and forget to tell me,” Knight said. “The intent to insure is there and I can make it right, but the insurance company doesn’t like it.”
The cost of the insurance had an increase of $3,304. Knight stated that it was due to property and construction costs. “Every company had to take a construction cost increase,” Knight said. “They’ve been holding off and the pandemic shoved all the prices way up and they’re finally taking a property cost increase. I apologize. I try to keep it as low as I possibly can.”
Commissioner Cory Chaney moved and Commissioner Bryan Haddix seconded the council’s approval for the insurance proposal as presented in the amount of $20,982.
Matt Johnson and Andy Rainwater from Fehr Graham were in attendance at the meeting to discuss the storm sewer project.
“The biggest mission tonight is to recognize is that we’re still feeling the effects of the supply chain craziness. It’s hard to get pipes and fittings,” Johnson said. “As soon as we got them, we got work started. Electro mechanical stuff is absolutely insane as far as delivery dates.”
Johnson has requested to recast the project schedule due to delays and assures that the project will continue as soon as possible. “I have still a contingency plan if something happens at the existing lift station to mobilize a pump and get it working.”
Commissioner Bryan Haddix mentioned the possibility of a ‘T’ being put in case the contingency plan is needed with the back up pump. Johnson agreed that it would be a good thing to do. “We do have to make a connection to the existing force main. We can talk about doing that work a head of time so we don’t do any temporary throw away work.”
Haddix mentioned that making the temporary connection semi permanent, so it could be used as a back up in the future. “I don’t want to see my grand kids forty years from now, when this system is worn out, worrying about what they’re going to do if all these outdated motors go out at once,” Haddix said. “You know we’re hanging on by a song and a prayer right now.”
Johnson said that he would work with others to see if this can be made possible.
In January 2023, residents of Chrisman will see an increase of ten dollars per month on their water bills. A sewer increase will also be seen in the coming months as well. The current rate is $5.25 per thousand gallons.
The increases will continue until January 1, 2026 and will remain at $25 per month there after. “We don’t need to act on it, it’s already been approved,” Chaney said.
Commissioner Thad Crispin has been in touch with Nick Hutchens at Feutz Construction about the storm drainage by the Chrisman Nazarene Church. “He would give us a bid, but he wants to come to give us a more accurate bid with all the utilities surrounding it,” Crispin said. “That’s $250 an hour.”
The charge would be for the use of the equipment to be able to give a more accurate bid. Mayor Danny Owen raised the question of the previous contractor who was to take on the project. “He basically gave us his blessing to go find someone else,” Crispin said. “He’s so backed up and working non-stop.”
The council approved to do the exploration bid with Feutz.
At the last council meeting, a homeowner brought to the council that he had trees that needed to be removed. Crispin searched for bids with a different company and found a cheaper rate. “He agreed with the homeowner that they needed to be taken down,” Crisping said and the council approved the removal of the trees and stumps for the amount of $3,300.
In another matter, it was brought to Crispin’s attention that parts of the bandstand were not in the best condition and needed some work. Crispin received a bid to get it taken care for $3,800. That’s to fix everything that was loose along with the stones that were about to fall out as well as acid wash when the job is complete.
“We provide the power and water. That wouldn’t be a problem,” Crispin said.
The council approved the bid to fix the stones and the acid wash. The job will possibly take place in the spring before the handrail is installed.
