Officials briefed on joining Illinois county-insurance pool; program touted for services and lower cost

County Administrator Cassie Taylor and risk-management staff presented a proposal on Feb. 4 for comprehensive county insurance arranged through AJ Gallagher and the Illinois Association of County Board Members program. Taylor introduced Rich Stoklowska of AJ Gallagher and Taylor Williams, who explained that the program is a three-year commitment that combines coverage with member services.

Taylor Williams said the program includes human-resources consulting, a legal hotline for county attorneys, property-appraisal services for high-value buildings and certain grant programs for sheriff's-office subscriptions. "You as part of the program... you will have a human resources consultant that will be working with you on policy manuals, safety handbooks, some training," Stoklowska told the committee, adding examples of the program's services and support.

Representatives said McLean County would join a program that some participating counties report has reduced overall cost while improving service access. Committee members asked whether many counties were joining the pool; Gallagher answered that membership quality and profitability were part of underwriting considerations and that coverage-form issues from 2022 had been addressed with underwriters.

Administrator Taylor said staff worked with the broker to pull proposals and that the committee would consider the resolution authorizing the county-board chair to enter agreements; the transcript records discussion of moving the item to a vote but does not record a final roll-call outcome in the meeting record.

What happens next: county staff will proceed according to the resolution process; if approved by the county board the county would enter into the insurance membership and implement program services through the broker and the Illinois association.