MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Commissioners heard reports from Emily Marth, risk management and human resources, and Roger Shooter, director of Jobs & Family Services, on Monday.
Marth reported that a sprinkler system was recently installed in the grandstand at the Knox County Fairgrounds, and that a dry fire hydrant will be installed at the fairgrounds in the near future. Talks with the Mount Vernon Fire Department concerning the placement of the hydrant are ongoing.
Marth also told the commissioners she recently learned that the county’s workers’ compensation premiums would rise in the near future. Knox County is part of a pool, along with other counties that have a workers’ compensation fund; according to Marth, Knox County has done well with managing workers’ compensation claims. However, Marth believes Knox County is being unfairly penalized because of other counties and their management of workers’ compensation claims.
“Our rates are going to double,” said Marth, adding the amount of the premiums this year would be about $147,000, while the expected premiums next year would rise to around $288,000. “This is really upsetting to me, because our rates are going to be so much higher, and ... we’ve managed these [claims] pretty aggressively.
“We do have a higher number of claims,” said Marth, in comparing Knox County to other counties in the pool, “but our claims are less severe.”
Marth said county employees filed 24 claims of workers’ compensation last year.
“We have a lot of people who just trip and fall ... I personally don’t understand it, but it happens,” Marth said.
It is those types of claims that end up being expensive in terms of workers’ compensation, according to Marth.
Marth said she was scheduled to meet with a member of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation today to discuss the potential premium increase.
“I just want to make sure it’s not something we’re doing, or I’m doing ... that contributes to this increase,” said Marth.
Shooter reported the Department of Jobs & Family Services will hold its quarterly staff meeting Friday, and that an employee of Clinex will be on hand to encourage employees to register for the county’s wellness program. Commissioner Allen Stockberger said more people would sign up if a nurse from Clinex was on site to conduct initial health assessments. Currently, the initial health assessments are conducted over the phone.
Shooter also said the Pinwheels for Prevention display to raise awareness about child abuse in the county has been going well and is generating good publicity.
