COUNTY RECEIVES $11,000 IN WORKERS' COMP DIVIDENDS

Cape Girardeau County received a nearly $11,000 dividend return from its Workers' Comp insurance pool.

The Missouri Association of Counties operates a self-insured Workers' Compensation Fund. Eighty-six counties and seven health departments are members.

The dividends, received in the form of credits against 1998 premiums, were recognized at the association's spring legislative conference in Jefferson City June 2. Three-fourths of Missouri county governments shared in the overall $500,000 return.

"This is the sixth year our fund has been able to return profits to the counties who belong to our self-insured pool," said County Clerk Rodney Miller. Miller also is chairman of the insurance board.

"The key is that the counties' dollars reserved to pay claims are sitting in their accounts. What is generally a profit incentive for the insurance company is now a savings for the counties who belong to the pool."

Miller said counties are able to keep costs low through pro-active approaches to loss control and timely accident reporting.

The fund employs a loss-prevention coordinator who visits each county annually to meet with commissioners and conduct safety training seminars, especially in the road and bridge departments. More than half of all workers' compensations claims occur in road and bridge departments.