BRIDGE BOARD MEETING 5/19/2008

After the pledge of allegiance, the minutes for last April’s meeting were approved. This was a little different board meeting in so far as having John R. Freeland and a quorum of board members in attendance.
Tom Cain who runs these meetings does a very job. He’s informative and to the point. The first item discussed was Essex insurance company dropping the bridge’s insurance coverage due to the two lawsuits initiated by two Village owners. One lawsuit had a jury ruled in our favor and the other is pending. It’s odd that the same attorney is representing both plaintiffs. This lawyer is currently appealing that jury verdict. It will be known soon if he’s successful.
Tom Cain said it was very difficult to find an insurance carrier that was willing to insure our bridge. Scottsdale Insurance Company has graced us with their acceptance, but it comes with a price. Before the lawsuits the bridge paid around $8000 a month. Now the new premium is a little over $12,000 a month. That figures about $40 a month out of each lot owner’s pocket. This seems not bad considering our bridge rating and two recent lawsuits by two Village owners.

Here’s a little background I found.
Scottsdale Insurance Company Description
Scottsdale Insurance Company insures the riskier parts of life, the universe, and everything. The property/casualty insurer specializes in excess and surplus insurance lines (E&S) -- insurance coverage for higher-risk individuals and businesses including alarm contractors, bars, exterminators, and tree trimmers. The company also offers such niche products as pet insurance, professional liability, and products for public entities (cities, towns, counties). E&S providers are not allowed to advertise directly to consumers, so Scottsdale Insurance relies upon wholesale general agents, brokers, and managers sell its products through local agents. The company is a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
nce company.

It was said if there comes a time insurance coverage is not obtainable, the bridge will be closed.
The board’s next topic was the perimeter fence on the south end of the bridge. Our new insurance carrier had recommended we do it. There was a small debate about upset Village owners not being able to fish near the bridge as they have in previous years. On the other hand it was said when South Point fenced their area for liability reasons, the people came here to fish.
It was also pointed out that in recent evenings this area seemed to take on an almost carnival like atmosphere due to the large number of non-village parents who fish while letting their children play. There were even at times tents put up to sleep overnight.
The cost of the fence is $7100. This fence would run to the end of our bridge’s property lines, which is approximately 200’ west and 300’ east. It will be 8’ tall. We will have one 20’ dock access gate on the west side along with a 5’east side gate. Those will cost $2100.
There were numerous items addressed that could save on expenditures. An example was lowering the commercial electric kilowatt per hour from 23 cents to 15 cents and changing peak hour costs with a new electricity provider. Another example was to attempt to become tax exempt.
Mr. Freeland’s appearance seemed to focus on the intercostals channel turn and the barges we let through our bridge. There was a recent photo taken of a three wide barge barely squeezing through our swing bridge. Apparently the rules state the barges must be single wide. The picture will be used as a means to hopefully make them obey the rules or the bridge board may ask the coast guard for their enforcement assistance. Interesting to note that in 2005, 48% of all barges that passed through our swing bridge were carrying a flammable liquid cargo. Since then there has been a pipeline built to ease that percentage somewhat.
The next bridge board meeting will be in September. The outcome of how the insurance increase will be budgeted and the results of the lawsuit appeal will be published as soon as I find out.