Board of Trustees Meeting
The CIS Board of Trustees will meet in Tigard on February 3, 2010. Attached is the agenda from the meeting.
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Keep Employees Safely Covered in Tough Times
Learn strategies for keeping employee benefits high and dry without swamping the budget. CIS benefits manager Carolyn Van Dyke outlines options for cities in Local Focus, December 2009.
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Don't Let a Mishap Spoil Your Event.
Have fun and protect your community with advice from CIS Risk Management Consultant Oscar Vega, published in Local Focus, November 2009.
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What Employers CAN Do About H1N1 Flu
A previous posting on this web site offers CIS advice on what employer's shouldn't do in dealing with H1N1 flu. This posting answers CIS members' questions about what employers CAN do to protect employees and comply with employment laws.
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Find out about important staff changes; how CIS bridges tax increases; and rewards character in October 2009 Local Focus.
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What to do if you suspect an employee has H1N1 virus?
Do you suspect an employee may have the H1N1 virus or some other contagious disease? Don't ask! And certainly don't report the medical status of an employee to any other employee with a few exceptions, outlined by CIS Pre-Loss Attorney Kirk Mylander.
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HAZARD ALERT:
CIS has learned of a serious potential safety hazard involving piston failures on tandem dump trucks. Numerous cases have been reported. Pistons broke through the rear of the cab in at least two incidences. Such failures can lead to serious operator injury or fatality. Please circulate the attached article to all departments and employees that drive these types of trucks. We also recommend that you conduct safety training meetings to review current procedures; ensure all employees follow manufacturer’s warnings and processes; and to evaluate your own dump trucks and equipment.
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New Legislation Defines Rules for Emergency Service Volunteers
CIS General Counsel Mark Rauch reports on recent Emergency Preparedness legislation in the September 2009 issue of Local Focus.
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Weathering the Economic Storm
Find out what health care reform means for Oregon cities and counties. CIS Deputy Director Lynn McNamara details the impact of new legislation in the League of Oregon Cities' August 2009 Local Focus.
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Aumsville Hindsight is 20-20
Aumsville Public Works employees don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. They can see behind their vehicles, however, thanks to new back-up cameras, purchased with Risk Management Grant Funds from City County Insurance Services (CIS).
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Halsey Builds Shelter with CIS Risk Management Grant
The former storage building sold, forcing the City of Halsey to park equipment outside, subject to weather and vandalism. There will soon be new shelter for valuable City assets, however, thanks to a Risk Management Grant from CIS.
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Grants Makes Safety Fashionable
A City of Jefferson compliance officer is sporting new duds. The logo apparel is not a fashion statement but, rather a safety measure, provided through a Risk Management Grant from CIS.
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Whistleblowing Rules and Other Employment Updates
Recent court decisions revise rules for handling whistleblowing, wages and hours and other personnel actions. CIS Attorney Kirk Mylander updates City leaders in the July 2009 issue of Local Focus, a monthly League of Oregon Cities (LOC) publication.
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CIS Grant to the Rescue
Potential thieves left pry marks on the doors of Westfir City Hall, apparently trying to break in. How do CIS grant funds help foil future caper? Read more to find out.
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GRANT FUNDS RELIEVE PAIN IN THE NECK FOR CITY OF MONROE
Phone calls to the City of Monroe were a pain in the neck. It wasn’t citizens’ complaints causing discomfort. It was the antiquated phone system – requiring users to clamp the receiver between their ear and shoulder to take notes -- causing headaches and other symptoms. Workers also had to run down stairs to answer calls when co-workers were away from their desk.
Monroe City Recorder Barb Johnston took the initiative to seek funding for upgrades. She applied to City County Insurance Services (CIS) for a Risk Management Grant.
CIS approved a grant of $728 to purchase new cordless phones, wireless headsets and a wireless keypad.
Johnston and city hall colleague, Verna Terry, are grateful for the grant. Both note improved safety and better service to citizens with the installation of the new phone equipment.
It is unlikely the city would have been able to afford the upgrades without the CIS grant, according to Johnston. “It was not in the budget,” she said.
CIS’ Risk Management Grant program is designed to help its smaller members avoid expensive claims by accomplishing specific loss control activities. Monroe is one of the 395 member-owners of CIS, which was formed in 1981 by the League of Oregon Cities and the Association of Oregon Counties. CIS provides Oregon cities, counties, and associated public entities with a wide array of risk management and insurance services to meet their property, liability, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits needs.
CIS members can find further details on CIS Risk Management Grants and a link to application information on our web portal or contact Trent McGath, CIS Risk Management Services, 503-763-3855.
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Lessons Learned from H1N1 Outbreak
The recent flu pandemic put public emergency response plans to the test. CIS coordinated with the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) to disseminate the latest public health information to members. Fortunately, this sow's ear turns out to be more of a silk purse. What lessons can we learn from the H1N1 scare to improve response to future emergencies? Watch for CIS Risk Management Consultant Valerie Saiki's article on the topic in the June issue of LOC's Local Focus Magazine. We will also post the article on our web site, along with other related updates.
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Budget Cuts: Could Layoffs Mean Lawsuits?
Budget shortfalls may require staff cuts. Avoid costly mistakes with CIS Attorney Kirk Mylander's advice, published April 2009 in the League of Oregon Cities publication, Local Focus.
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Boost Your Legal Immunities
Add to your municipal toolbox with another CIS contribution to the League of Oregon Cities' "Tools for the New City Councilor" series, published in Local Focus, April 2009.
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Pending Changes in Tort Cap Liability
The Tort Caps -- They are A-Changin' But Your Personal Liability Stays the Same
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Fleet Kit
To aid in developing and implementing policies that will protect your entity and the employees who drive, CIS has compiled an assortment of helpful documents available as a Fleet Kit.
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How Can I Sue Thee?
CIS offers an introduction to municipal liability, part of the League of Oregon Cities' "Tools for the New City Councilor" series, published in the February 2009 issue of Local Focus.
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CIS Conference: Thanks for Being There!
Thanks to all who joined us at CIS' 8th Annual Member Meeting and Risk Management Conference. We're glad you were there! Conference session materials are now posted for your reference. Access these, as well as photos, video clips and other details at the CIS Conference Site.
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Updated Workers' Compensation Claims Forms
Find our newly-simplified WC 801 Claim Form and updated Return-To-Work forms on the Workers’ Compensation site. To access the documents, click on the “Workers’ Compensation” quick link on the homepage. The resources posted to both the “Forms” and “Return-to-Work” page have been updated.
The updated forms are also accessible on the Risk Management Library through the Members Only Portal at www.cisoregon.org/webportal/Services/RML.aspx.
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Flood Coverage Review
With winter storms on the horizon, now is the time for you to 1) review your plans for protecting your property and equipment from water and storm damage and 2) review and make sure your flood insurance is ready as well.
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New Claim Reporting E-Mail Address
We have a new email addresses for reporting Property/Liability claims: claimspl@cisoregon.org.
If you generally report claims via e-mail, please begin using the new claim email addresses immediately. You can also use the claim reporting section on the CIS website (click on the Property/Liability quick link – information on Filing a Claim is on the right side of the page). Please do not report claims directly to claim consultants.
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Grants Available for 2008-09
CIS members that have more risk management needs than funds available may have several opportunities for CIS grant funding in 2008-09.
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Sewer System Failures
Aging systems, lack of funds for adequate maintenance and a new awareness of toxicity issues that requires more elaborate and costly clean-up procedures make sewer system backups a growing exposure in many Oregon communities. Insurance is one, but certainly not the only remedy local governments should be using to protect their citizens from the consequences of accidental backups.
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