MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners voted Thursday to renew the county’s annual agreement with the County Risk Sharing Authority, a comprehensive property and liability insurance program.
The county’s annual premium with CORSA costs $414,008, according to county administrator Andrew Keller.
CORSA is a self-insurance pool founded in 1987 by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to provide property and liability coverage and comprehensive risk-management services for CCAO members.
Keller said 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties participate in the CORSA program, as well as 48 county-affiliated entities.
“Participation in CORSA dramatically helps absorb individual claims and losses,” Keller said. “That’s why we do it.”
As members of the CORSA pool, the county pays deductibles when claims are filed and utilizes attorneys designated by the agency to “represent the (county) in the investigation, settlement and litigation of any claim made against the (county) within the scope of the coverage agreement furnished by CORSA.”
(Below is a PDF of the agreement approved by Richland County commissioners on Thursday to again participate in the County Risk Sharing Authority.)
In addition, the county participates in CORSA’s loss reduction and prevention programs, many of them educational in nature.
“Our loss control program coordinator, Jenny Phelps, works closely with (CORSA) risk-management folks. She does a great job,” Keller said.
CORSA is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Those members are county commissioners from member counties.
Directors are elected by members and are eligible to serve three, two-year terms.
Coverage provided to members includes property, equipment breakdown, automobile
liability and physical damage, general liability, medical professional liability (physicians and dentists excluded, except for physicians who provide services in jails), law enforcement liability, cyber, and errors and omissions.
Commissioners OK solar eclipse mutual aid agreement
Commissioners on Thursday also approved a mutual aid agreement between the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and city/village police departments around the county during the upcoming solar eclipse.
The agreement, in effect Sunday through Wednesday, allows for multi-jurisdictional law enforcement response for the RCSO and police departments in Mansfield, Shelby, Ontario, Plymouth, Lexington, Bellville and Butler.
(Below is a PDF of the mutual aid agreement approved by Richland County commissioners on Thursday.)
A total solar eclipse is expected to spread across Richland County on Monday. Locally, the eclipse experience will begin at approximately 1:57 p.m. Totality is expected to begin at 3:12 p.m. and local residents (and guests) can expect 3 minutes and 12 seconds of daytime darkness.
As many as 250,000 visitors could come to Richland County for the event, according to county Emergency Management Agency Director Rebecca Owens, a potential gathering that has led to a year-long preparation.
The 72-hour mutual aid agreement allows for a combined emergency response in any area of the county, according to Keller.
$50,000 donation made to Veteran Service Commission
Commissioners accepted an anonymous $50,000 donation to the Richland County Veteran Service Commission.
Funds are to be used to address housing issues and concerns for military veterans in the county, Commissioner Darrell Banks said.