Sumpter Twp. accepts insurance proposal from Burnam Flower

At its March 27 meeting, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the insurance package presented for $118,224 from John Johnson of Burnham & Flower Insurance Group.
Last year’s annual premium was $131,440 and the premium in 2007 was $222,497.
Burnham & Flower has been the township’s insurance company for 20 years and part of the Michigan Township Participating Plan much of that time. Larry Clever, the longtime agent, has retired and Jeff McCray took a position with the Par Plan.
This insurance renewal takes effect April 1.
The new agent is John Johnson who explained the premium drop is because the township is limiting claims and over the last five to ten years claims have dropped significantly.
He said safety risk and safety grants to the township have totaled $10,000 and they have implemented a dividend program that returned just below $17,000 last year.
Johnson said the program supplies broad coverage for general liability, wrongful acts, law enforcement, fire department, vehicles, buildings, and, new this year, AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment) for the board. He said also new this year is non-monetary defense coverage.
He said his firm comes out and counsels the township on needed changes and offers seminars. He said a look at the five- and ten-year claims history has caused the reduction in premium.
Township attorney Rob Young said Sumpter has been accused of having excessive claims and that the insurance company was going to drop the township. This proves otherwise, he said.
Trustee Matthew Oddy said the premium actually is $102,000 if the township gets $16,000 back in premium. He said the township would pay less now than in 1999 when they paid $111,000 and didn’t get a premium.
John Johnston of Nickel & Saph representing Trident Insurance Company quoted a premium of $107,900 plus another $780 to cover the clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer, and deputy treasurer.
He said his firm is a part of the Michigan Township Association and covers more than 100 different municipalities. He also gave a comprehensive report on what his insurance program covered.
In other business at the March 27 meeting, the board:
• Approved the rezoning of 3.655 acres of property split from the southwest corner of 48651 Harris Road from the existing Single Family Residential (R-2) zoning district to the Agricultural (AG) zoning district with the dimensions not to exceed 419 feet by 380 feet, as recommended by the planning commission;
• Approved the planning commission’s recommendation to approve a special land use permit to allow a 175-foot communication tower facility, contingent on rezoning of the property to AG and township planner’s recommendations;
• Heard Trustee Don LaPorte, who is board liaison to the police and fire departments, announce he was stepping down as health and safety officer for the fire department and will just be a fire fighter and focus on his services to the community. He said he was not at the fire department as much as needed because there was too much on his plate, such as being a good husband and going to Ford Motor Co. “I apologize to the fire fighters for not being here when they needed me. I hope the chief will find someone to appoint for this position”;
• Approved the request of Collin Lynch to be demoted from lieutenant to fire fighter. Trustee LaPorte said Lynch volunteered his demotion because he didn’t have time to be a good father and didn’t have time any more to do the extra work at the fire department;
• Approved attorney Young’s report which was a brief statement on how he will be negotiating with Republic Waste and the Belleville Area District Library and how he will bring a report on new legislation. Then he gave the floor to Public Safety Director Eric Luke who presented a request for $2,196.84 in expenditures for a switch for a computer network and another piece of equipment. Having the new switch on site April 3 would save money because the IT person will be present when other equipment is being installed. Director Luke said it’s on this coming year’s budget, but if he waited until after the budget was in effect to get the expenditure approved it would be too late. He said the new price is $600 cheaper than it was in January. Director Luke’s request was not on the agenda, but it was approved as part of the approval of Young’s attorney report;
• Heard resident Mary Ban announce she is still receiving mail with a Van Buren Township address, although she lives in Sumpter Township and had always, until now, had a Belleville address. She said she has left messages for VBT Clerk Leon Wright, who initiated the change of some 48111 addresses to Van Buren Township designation, but he had not responded. She said now most of her family’s mail has the Van Buren Township designation; and
• Watched Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis demonstrate the ADA-operated back door to the meeting room that was recently installed. Armatis also told of the March 29 noon pie tasting that requires a four-pack of toilet paper to taste a piece of pie. The toilet paper is for the township’s community outreach program. There also was to be an auction for full pies requiring toilet paper entry.