I'm not sure being a bibliophile was a major reason I ended up working for an association, and more specifically on group insurance programs. But it certainly should be a requirement for this job, because we read many things, usually in pursuit of answers to your questions or preventions and solutions to problems.

I am sure you can guess some of the examples I am going to mention: insurance coverage documents, reinsurance contracts, contracts with brokers and vendors, industry publications and research articles. In addition, you supply us with plenty of written words to review: contracts, proposed rules and regulations, sample policies, notices to employees, personnel policies and more. Add to this all the governmental related items: proposed legislation (I review this several times a week), acts, regulations and court cases.

I wouldn't mind it if you did a better job of sending up contracts to review, and yes we would like to see them before they are actually signed, and that does not mean early on the day the commissioners will be acting upon them!

After pouring through all this material, you may now understand why I need to pick up a good mystery at the end of the day to take me to another place and time. The other option is to hop in the car, open up the windows, and crank up The Beatles. Maybe "Paperback Writer".....

Many members of the CCAP Unemployment Compensation Trust will be receiving a check in late May or early June as a result of the improved financial condition of the UC Trust. The Board of Trustees authorized the payment of a cash dividend to all members who, as of December 31, 2013, have an Eligible Account Balance with the Trust.

Eligible Account Balances are actuarially determined using the difference between each member's individual account balance with the Trust and their Minimum Balance, which is the benefit provision determined from the 2014 funding analysis or 85.9% of the member's estimated 2014 contributions. The purpose of the Minimum Balance is to assure that the members receiving dividends will not be left with an insufficient account balance.

A total of 37 of the Trust's 46 members will receive a dividend. Nine members were not eligible for a dividend: two have a negative individual account balance and seven have a positive individual account balance which is less than their Minimum Balance. Letters informing members of their dividend amounts were sent via email in May, and checks will be sent in early June to county chief clerks or county-related entity administrators along with a hard copy of the letter.

Members of the Trust are reminded the dividend is NOT an annual payment. The remaining account balances of members receiving a dividend payment will still be well funded; however, should your county/entity experience an increase in claims, excess funds may not accrue. Additionally, excess funds are only able to be returned to the members if the Board of Trustees and the actuary agree it will not endanger the financial status of the Trust as a whole. While we are encouraged that the Trust's financial position is very strong, we do want to stress that there is no guarantee dividends can be paid every year.

The PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant Program has proven to be a very successful program and well received by the members. To date this policy year 39 members have applied and received a grant. Currently $386,682 has been awarded to PCoRP member counties and PCoRP member county related entities.

The PCoRP board approved offering the grants again during the 2014-2015 policy year and has set aside $600,000 to fund the program for another year. The purpose of the PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant Program is to provide the members the opportunity to fund loss prevention projects for their county or county related entity. The program is to support members' safety committees and administration by awarding grants to offset the costs of enhancing safety, maintenance and risk management programs.

Again this year the PCoRP membership is split into two groups; currently 48 county members and four county related entity members. The total amount available is a different dollar amount for each group as well as the type of grant is different for each group. The following will explain the differences.

1. The PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant Program will
    allow PCoRP member counties in the 2014-2015
    policy year to apply for up to a total of $12,500 in
    funding. Just like the prior years this can be for
    one or more projects, but the total awarded a
    member county for all loss prevention grants will
    not exceed $12,500.
 
    Again the grant money from PCoRP still cannot be
    more than 50 percent of the cost of the project(s).
    Therefore, the PCoRP county member must
    contribute at least half of the cost of the grant
    project(s). Also, the match can come from the
    county member's funds, other grants and/or in
    kind work done by employees of the county.
 

2. The PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant Program will
    allow the four PCoRP county related entities to
    apply for a non-matching grant up to a total of
    $6,000 during the 2014-2015 policy year. This can
    be for one or more projects, but the total awarded
    to a county related entity member for all loss
    prevention grants will not exceed $6,000. The
    $6,000 grant is an outright grant and to receive it
    does not require any matching funds, but all the
    other grant guidelines must be met.

Below are examples of projects and purchases that members over the last several years have used the PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant Program to fund;

• Security cameras and recording equipment for in and outside of jails, administration buildings, courthouses and other county buildings.
• Building security and access control systems including X-ray equipment
• Video surveillance equipment
• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
• Fire alarm systems including smoke and fire detectors
• New carpeting
• Replace sidewalks and curbing
• Pave parking lots and driveways

Below are additional, unique examples of projects and purchases that members have used the PCoRP Loss Prevention Grant program to fund: 

• Installing a drainage swallow
• New flooring for the county owned camp store
• Widen and resurface handicap ramp and replace the hand railings
• Purchases of a snow plow and a snow blower
• Lightning and surge protection
• High visibility t-shirts for outdoor maintenance personnel
• Asbestos abatement
• Removal of trees and stumps and pruning trees
• Kevlar vests for sheriff's department
• Heat tapes in gutters and downspouts
• GPS systems installed in county vehicles