Comp coverage in question

Jay County Commissioners will sit down next week with an insurance agent to figure out whether the sheriff's reserves are covered under the county's workman's compensation plan.

Bob Brown of Barnum and Brown Insurance, Dunkirk, approached the commissioners Monday afternoon and informed them the sheriff's department reserves aren't covered under the county's current plan.

The commissioners earlier this year declined an additional volunteer coverage option, which would cover more than about 20 volunteers working for the county.

After Brown left, Sheriff Ray Newton told the commissioners that the reserves have been covered through the county plan.

The commissioners, however, were unsure if the reserves would be covered within the county's current volunteer coverage, despite what Brown had said earlier in the meeting.

Both the commissioners and sheriff agreed that reserves should be covered in case of injury while serving the county.

With several questions needing to be answered, the commissioners said they would have Brown return next week to talk with them and the sheriff and get the situation sorted out.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Repealed and set a new ordinance increasing the lunch stipend for election workers. Earlier this year the commissioners set that amount at $11. However, at the request of Jay County clerk Ellen Coats, the commissioners rescinded that ordinance and passed a new one, setting the total at up to $10.

•Received a refund check of $216 from premiums paid on the county's workman's compensation plan from Barnum and Brown Insurance.[[In-content Ad]]