By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan Town Board approved changing insurance companies July 16.
Town Administrator John Olson said the change will save the town $34,302 a year in premiums.
Olson said EMC Insurance, which specializes in municipal insurance, has never represented the township and made an aggressive bid to do so now. He said the bid was so aggressive that other companies backed out of the bid process. The town had been spending $152,174 a year for automotive, liability, and worker’s compensation insurance. EMC’s bid came in at $117,872.
“They really wanted our business,” Olson said.
Olson said the town had been insured through Horton Group for 10 years and that company insured the town through American Alternative. Olson said the town requests proposals every three years for underwriting stability and to keep the market honest, and the town gave Horton the first opportunity to renew before contacting other agencies for quotes.
Map donation
The board approved donating $625 to the Delavan Historical Society toward to creation of a map display at the society’s location on Ann Street in Delavan.
Historical Society President Patti Marsicano said the map is an old map of Delavan Lake and the surrounding area that includes some points of reference for historic events that have taken place in the area. Marsicano said the map is four by eight feet and is printed on vinyl with a clear plastic laminate on it that will be mounted to a sheet of PVC plastic. She said changeable 4 by 6 images can be mounted on foam core along with explanation boards that can include a brief history of the lake.
Monument restoration
Ken Wargo, chairman of the Civil War Monument Restoration Committee, offered the board the opportunity to contribute to the restoration of the monument in Spring Grove Cemetery. Wargo said the monument was dedicated 143 years ago and honors Civil War veterans from the entire Delavan area, not just the city.
Wargo said the committee’s goal is to raise $20,000 and about $14,000 has been raised so far.
Board Chairman Ryan Simons asked that the issue be added to the next Committee of the Whole meeting agenda.
Speed limit reduced
The board approved a new ordinance designed to make speed limits consistent in the subdivision served by Deer Run and Blue Heron Drive. The speed limit on Blue Heron Drive is posted as 25 mph while Deer Run is not included in the ordinance that lists town roads with 25 mph limits.
The new ordinance states the town wished to ensure the safety of the general motoring public by establishing speed limits and properly posting signs. A citizen request to post speed limit signs at the entrances to the subdivision at Deer Run and Blue Heron led to the discovery that Deer Run was not included in the old ordinance.
Capital expenditures
The board approved capital expenditures of $35,000 for a new public works pick-up truck and $15,500 for a new police sport utility vehicle. The police vehicle was due to come out of the 2014 budget at a cost of $30,000, but the town received an insurance payment for a vehicle that was damaged in an accident and can use that money to bring the cost down to $15,500 and fit it into the 2013 budget.
Both expenditures must still go through the bid process and then be voted on again by the board.
