As the local 9-1-1 tower system expands, liability insurance increases

Winneshiek County Supervisors have given their approval to the Emergency Management Commission to increase its current liability insurance from a $2 million policy to a $5 million policy. The increase will cost $2,500 a year extra.

The increase is necessary because the Emergency Management Commission wants to increase the number of towers it uses within the county, adding antennas to several existing towers in the near future. However, that construction hasn't happened yet and the insurance carrier says such policies can be changed just once a year -- on April 1st.

County supervisors have discussed whether it's wiser to increase the insurance coverage now, when there aren't additional towers, or to wait until next April and possibly having some uninsured towers or antennas. In the end the supervisors agreed with County Board Chair John Logsdon, who said, "The bigger risk is not having insurance."