Board lacks flood and cyber insurance cost information

By Lucy Perry 
Indiana Central News

The costs of upgrades needed to meet federal standards at the wastewater treatment plant on S.R 63 continue to trickle down to Terre Haute residents with increased sewer rates and an implemented trash fee. The newest hit could be for taxpayers to absorb the cost of additional insurance premiums to cover what is described as expensive facility equipment and additional flood insurance needs due to the plant's location near the Wabash River.

​Insurance representatives discussed potential flood coverage costs for prorated premiums to be in place prior to the annual renewal in May with the Board of Public Works and Safety at the meeting in City Hall this afternoon. The need for cyber liability coverage was also discussed. 

Several board members remarked they had not received information on the flood and cybler liability proposals beforehand and would like more information from the city attorney, Eddie Felling, before taking any action on the agenda items.  Board members Jim Trimble, Cary Sparks, Bob All and Roland Shelton voted to table the proposals for the next meeting due to lack of information and questions on funding directed to the city's legal department. Board president Jon Stinson was not present at today's meeting. 

Sparks admitted to being apprehensive about voting on the measure when material wasn't presented to board members beforehand.  He'd like to have recommendations by city legal before taking action.

"I always have a little bit of a problem voting on something I didn't have a chance to read before the meeting; however, I think it's probably fine," Sparks said, adding, "We've had situations in the past where we've done that, and it didn't work out so well."

The city currently has a $5 million flood insurance policy with a $500,000 deductible. Sccooter Grim of ONI Risk Partners, recommends the city increase its flood coverage another $5 million to total $10 million. The cost of additional flood coverage would be about $2,000 between now and May 1.

"What brought this topic back to the table is the improvements out at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. There's lots of values there now, and even though it's not in a floodplain, the proximity is obviously close to the river and the thought would be to consider buying some more flood insurance," Grim said.

Shelton asked specifically if the funds are available for the additional costs. BPWS administrator Rpbin Drummy resppnded that while the costs have not been budgeted, she felt the money was available. 

"Well, I believe the funds are available," Drummy said, adding that.costs could be distributed between various city departments, the general fund and the sanitary district.

Information Technology Director Brad Speidel said that while he could not speak regarding the flood policy, he does, however, see a great need for $1 million cyber protection coverage with a $25,000 deductible.

"I'm glad we're going forward with this," Speidel said, adding the department has had many concerns about online security and viruses for some time.

"What this does, is it at least provides us with some level of safety net in that if we do note that there is a problem, we have sufficient capabilities,  or I have professional that I can turn to," Speidel said.

He explained that another Indiana municipality, Madison County, had recently experienced significant issues with cyber secrurity. He said because of risk of compromising confidential information and the potential for hacking locally, the repurcussions could be serious and result in servers being shut down.

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In other business:
The board approved a request from Mobilitie Telecommunications Infrastructure to install towers at 2255 Spring Clean Avenue and at North Sixth and Elm Streets. A company representative, Michelle Rowland, explained that it would take just a couple hours to install the poles on the city's right of way and would include standard style utility poles for Sprint. Other cellular networks would be able elligible lease space on the poles.  Other cities where the 55-foot and 7f-foot tall towers are used have often opted to place equipment of their own on the poles as well, such as wifi-related equipment and cameras, she noted.

Michelle Roland discusses tower installation at Board of Public Works and Safety meeting/Lucy Perry photo

The board also took action on the following agenda items:
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• Approved recommendation to consult with insurance agencies for requests for proposals regarding property and casualty policies.
• The board approved a 2017 Material Testing contract.
• The board approved a request from St Joseph Community Parish to use the north-south alley between Fourth and Fifth Streets and Ohio and Walnut Streets as a one-way drive- thru on March 3 during annual fish fry.
• The board approved a request from Blues at the Crossroads to close Wabash Avenue from Sixth to Eighth Streets and Seventh Street from the alley just north and  south of Wabash Avenue Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. until Sept. 10 at 4 a.m.
• The board approved a request from Cross Roads Events to host the Heart Throb 6K on Feb. 11
• The board approved a request from Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau to close Eagle Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets and Ninth Street between Cherry and Eagle Street from 6 a.m. to midnight on April 1 for an event.
• The board agreed to table consideration of an advertising agreement between Transit and Clean Zone Marketing after Transportation Director Brad Miller said he had some concerns.