Commissioners authorize insurance binding, accept unemployment reimbursements and affirm Aberdeen Water District step

Commissioners approved several routine administrative items during the meeting: authority to bind insurance for special events, acceptance of unemployment reimbursements, and a funding step related to joining the Aberdeen Water District.

A county staff member asked permission to bind liquor-liability and special-event policies before the county’s first horse race and some concerts, estimating combined costs under $12,000 and requesting flexibility to bind coverage and then memorialize the action by resolution. He asked the board to allow staff to bind policies before events and, if necessary, obtain ratification later. "I'd like to try to bind it before our first horse race this weekend," the staff member said. The board authorized staff to bind insurance and asked that the authority be memorialized later in resolution form, with a limit of up to $15,000 for the year.

Comptroller Christie Foster briefed the commission on unemployment reimbursements for several temporary employees and one prior public-defender employee; a motion to accept those payroll items passed by voice vote.

Board members also confirmed they had authorized joining the Aberdeen Water District and recorded the one-year cost shown in staff materials — $2,024.07 — to move forward with related water-bank and well-activation steps.

Next steps: staff will bind insurance as authorized, bring a memorializing resolution for ratification, provide payroll documentation for the unemployment items, and submit the Aberdeen Water District paperwork and check as discussed.