Ensuring Accurate Schedules

No one likes to pay for items that they either do not own or are no longer viable.  Making sure that your insurance schedules are accurate and up to date can be a quick and easy way to potentially save on hundreds if not thousands of dollars in annual premium.  We rarely forget to add insurance coverage to our new vehicles or properties as often time it is required for purchase, however, it is not uncommon for OMAG Members to forget to remove automobiles, equipment, and property line items from coverage once they have been sold, scrapped, surplussed, or demolished.  For this reason, OMAG recommends that its members set aside a time at least once a year to review their schedules to ensure that it is not providing coverage on items that it no longer possesses.  If you are interested in a policy review, please contact your OMAG Insurance Services Representative today.

Winter Weather is on the Way

It’s that time of year again when the bottom can drop out of the temperature gauge, and OMAG wants to make sure that you are prepared.  Sub-freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on buildings and water damage from busted pipes is the most common issue.  You want to protect all properties, but vacant buildings pose the most risk to extreme freezing as they are often an afterthought.  As a reminder OMAG’s Municipal Property Protection Plan (MPPP) limits coverage for vacant buildings and excludes any loss due to water damage (See page 19 of MPPP).  For this reason, we ask that you remember to take proper precautions on all vacant properties when Father Winter decides to strike.  Other exclusions in addition to water damage under the OMAG Vacancy Clause include loss due to vandalism, sprinkler leakage, building glass breakage, theft, and attempted theft.  

Fostering a Culture of Service

Municipal culture reflects leadership influence. How can you ensure you’re fostering a culture of service? Below are strategies you can implement today that will influence a culture of service. 

1. Lead by example, set the service standard. The foundation of a service-oriented culture begins at the top. Embody the values you wish to see in your team. By consistently demonstrating a commitment to service excellence, you set the standard for others to follow. This authenticity resonates throughout the municipality, creating a ripple effect that permeates every level. 

2. Empower employees. Empowered employees are the driving force behind a service-centric culture. Foster an environment that encourages autonomy, decision-making, and creativity. By entrusting employees with the responsibility to serve citizens effectively, you empower them to take ownership of their roles and contribute to a positive service culture. 

3. Invest in the continuous training and development of employees. It is a key to maintaining a high standard of service. Regular workshops, skill-building sessions, and customer service training programs ensure that employees stay updated on best practices and industry trends. This commitment to ongoing education reinforces the municipality’s dedication to delivering exceptional service. 

4. A culture of service is rooted in genuine, customer-centric communication. Encourage open dialogue, active listening, and empathy in all interactions. By prioritizing the citizen experience and focusing on building lasting relationships, municipalities can create a positive reputation that extends far beyond individual transactions. 

5. Acknowledging and celebrating service excellence is a powerful motivator. Implement a system of recognition and rewards to highlight outstanding contributions to the service culture. This not only reinforces positive behaviors but also inspires others to go above and beyond in their service efforts. 

6. A culture of service requires adaptability to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of citizens. Instill a mindset of flexibility, encouraging teams to proactively anticipate citizen needs and adapt their approaches accordingly. This responsiveness positions the organization as agile and citizen-focused. 

7. Establishing feedback loops is critical to the continuous improvement of service standards. Encourage a culture where both positive and constructive feedback are welcomed. By learning from citizens’ experiences, your municipality can evolve and refine service strategies to meet needs. 

Influencing a culture of service is a transformative journey that begins with you. It permeates every facet of a municipality. When you have a culture of service, you secure citizen loyalty, create engaged employees, and a workplace where service excellence is not just a goal but a way of life.

Tips for Avoiding a Deer Collision

Knowing what to do when you encounter a large animal on or near a roadway can not only prevent damage to your vehicle, it could be a lifesaver. Keeping calm, driving alert, and smart greatly improves your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road.

1. Watch for the rest of the pack. Deer are herd animals and rarely travel alone. If you spot a deer on or near the road, chances are there are more nearby. Slow down and keep an eye out for more deer that could dart across the road.

2. Don’t let “the rut” put you in a rut. October through January is mating season for deer, they become much more mobile during this season looking for mates. Also, deer are most active at dawn and dusk; periods when your vision is most compromised. Slow down and stay alert, especially after dark.

3. Use your headlights. Watch for road signs that indicate a high-traffic deer area. The sign is a yellow diamond with a deer on it. Also, deer’s eyes will reflect green from the headlights in the dark, making them easier to spot. And for white-tailed deer, it looks like a white flag raised when they are moving on alert.

4. Stay center. On multi-lane roads, use the center lane, it’s your safest bet for avoiding a deer collision. On rural roads stay near the center line unless passing an oncoming car. Staying in the center gives you more time to react if a deer darts in front of you.

5. Brake, but don’t swerve. If you see a deer brake firmly and calmly, and stay in your lane. Swerving could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and make a bad situation worse. Remember, deer are unpredictable, you could swerve directly into their changing path.

6. Honk, loud, and long. Some experts say a long blast from your horn will scare the deer and cause them to move away from the sound (This is not a proven theory but sounds practical). Don’t rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer- studies have shown them to be largely ineffective in preventing deer collisions.

What to do if you hit a deer:

1. Pull to the side of the road as soon as it’s safe to do so.

2. Turn on your hazard lights and remain in the vehicle till you’re sure it is safe to get out.

3. Call emergency services if injuries are involved and the local police for property damage. Let authorities know if the deer is in a dangerous spot on the road so it can be removed ASAP.

4. Stay away from the deer. If it is still alive, it could be confused, injured, and dangerous if approached.

5. Contact your insurance provider and report any damage to your vehicle ASAP.

Potholes: How They Form and How They Can Be Prevented

Whether traveling on local streets, rural roads, or busy highways, traveling down a long stretch of smooth roadway is unconsciously satisfying. On the other hand, not much is more aggravating than driving on a street or roadway peppered with potholes. Unfortunately, without proper road maintenance, the latter can be more the norm rather than the exception. Having a well-thought-out asphalt pavement plan can lead to less driver aggravation, overextended road maintenance budgets, and costly insurance claims for vehicle damage repair costs, traffic accidents, injuries, and even deaths.

How potholes form

Harsh climates, excessive wind, rain, freezing temperatures, and excessive heat is tough on asphalt pavement. Then there is heavy traffic, heavy vehicular traffic, and the general wear and tear of the pavement. Eventually road material deteriorates, resulting in cracks in the pavement. Water becomes trapped under the asphalt layer and accumulates, causing the base soils to become waterlogged. Traffic compresses the pavement causing dips in the surfacing due to these base soils being pushed away. As the seasons occur, we get rain, wind, and freezing which further deteriorates the road materials, causing a pothole or series of potholes and a washboard effect on the surface of the road.

Asphalt maintenance tips

1. Keep it clean! Power blowing and washing loose debris, fuel, and oil residues a couple of times a year helps prevent asphalt damage.

2. Seal it up! Sealcoating your asphalt roadways is one of the best pothole prevention methods. It adds a protective layer to your asphalt extending its lifespan by sealing cracks and preventing water seepage into the base layer.

3. Repair the damage ASAP! As soon as the asphalt is damaged, water can start seeping into the undersurface of the roadway, and freezing temperatures, and wind will then cause the cracks to create potholes. Repairing damage as soon as it occurs is critical to keeping potholes in check and protecting your pavement investment. 75% of untreated pavement cracks become potholes. Asphalt crack filling is one of the most effective ways to prevent further water deterioration. Perform asphalt crack filling every year for the best results in your pavement maintenance plan.

Benefits of Proper Asphalt Pavement Maintenance

1. Protects your investment – extends the longevity of your asphalt surface.

2. Improves customer experience – Driving on roads covered in potholes is frustrating to your citizens and others traveling through your community. It doesn’t reflect well on your municipality's image. Good smooth roadways also improve the safety and driving experience of those using your streets.

3. Saves your municipality money – Repaving and surfacing is expensive, routinely maintaining your asphalt roads will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Also with smoothly maintained roads, there will be less opportunity for insurance claims to be filed for property damage and injuries allegedly due to poor roadways.

OMAG In Action (Volume 8)

OMAG's Police Liability Update (November 2023)

Sanitary Sewer Claims

The claims linked to Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) incidents in the 2022-2023 fiscal year alone have amounted to an unsettling $3.4 million, which is equivalent to 50% of our reported losses among our member municipalities. The rising costs of SSO incidents serve as a reminder that our risk pool's strength lies not only in its financial reserves but in the public health, safety and welfare of member’s citizens. Considering the escalating costs of SSO claims, OMAG is exploring options to reduce this exposure to the risk pool, including limited coverage, higher deductibles, and/or higher premiums. In the interim, it is imperative that we, as a risk pool community, come together to develop a proactive and strategic approach to mitigate the effects of SSO incidents. 

Here are a few OMAG value added services your municipality can utilize to mitigate this issue:

Know where the issues with your system are located:

Acoustic Inspection is a quick, easy to use, and cost-effective method for determining potential blockage locations in your collection system.  OMAG has (7) Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tools (SL-RAT) units available for members to use free of charge.  SL-RAT assessment information allows OMAG members to better allocate sewer line cleaning, CCTV inspection, and other maintenance operations.

Pinpoint the cause of collection system blockages/issues:

Closed-circuit television inspection is used to identify, evaluate, and mange obstruction and mainline defects. The value of CCTV inspection is hard to ignore.  Considering this, OMAG has partnered with Luckinbill to provide closed-circuit television inspection services for a maximum of 2,000 liner feet of sewer line as well as jetting and vacuuming cleaning as needed.  This grant has a maximum benefit of $5,000 and is provided at no cost to participating members.

Manage root intrusion:

Tree root are a stubborn and destructive force once they make their way into sewer main lines.  Chemical root control minimizes damage and service disruption and is one of the most effective methods for removing this costly line obstruction.  OMAG has partnered with Duke’s Root Control Inc to provide guaranteed sewer root control treatments to participating members.  This grant opportunity provides a 1:1 matching funds, with a $5,000 maximum benefit.

Continuing maintenance, purchasing equipment:

Maintaining your collection and observing “Best Practices” is of paramount importance.  Having equipment to maintain your sewer collection is costly enterprise.  Recent price increases have further placed owning maintenance equipment further out of many members reach. OMAG recognizes the need and in response, developed a grant to make this equipment more obtainable.  The Sanitary Sewer Equipment Purchase grant, is a 1:1 matching funds grant with a $10,000 maximum benefit.  Equipment eligible for matching funds include but are not limited to new/refurbished jetters, jetter nozzles, CCTV inspection cameras, and other related equipment.

Maintenance, Budget, and Planning Assistance:

Developing, budgeting and planning for sewer maintenance and replacement is a daunting task.  It is sometime difficult to know where to start.  Please know that OMAG’s Risk Management professionals are no further than a phone call or email away. If you’re looking for resources or assistance in dealing with your specific sewer collection system issue(s); please feel free to contact us at your convenience at (405) 675-1400. OMAG staff is available to answer your questions and connect your municipality with outside professional resources, if needed.

The Copper Sulfate solution

After an overflow, when asked what was done, many have answered with, we poured Copper Sulfate down the line after the overflow. What is the effectiveness of this strategy?  

 To be effective the chemical must come in contact with the roots. Roots grow in from above the water level down to the water. Short term results can be achieved when the roots are contacting the water, but once the above the water level, the chemical effect is greatly decreased. If the roots are not touching the water, there is no effect on the roots. It just flows by.

 Coper Sulfate is most effective as a capful flushed down a private septic line. In the case of a septic tank, it is determined the best results is at 2lbs for 300-gallon tank. (Without destroying the good bacteria)

 To be effective in a sewer main, what is the ratio of the amount of water to how many pounds of product are needed? Do you calculate or just pour some down the line? How do you know it works as it should? Is it to diluted to perform properly?

 If the line is holding and slow draining, how does this chemical flow down to reach the obstruction before diluting? After Jetting, then placing the chemical in the flow, the distance downstream to the roots, the amount of water in the pipe, and the flow will dictate how effective this type of treatment is. Once again, it will only affect roots in contact with the water, but that is about it.

 A better alternative is a jetter applied root control chemical. When this is applied through a jetter, it encompasses the entire pipe and coats all the roots protruding in the sewer pipe, not just what is in contact with the flow level.

 Once opened, and only utilizing Copper Sulfate, is this line place on a regular treatment schedule? If using the flow line only and adding this chemical, it will need to be re-treated at least every other month, as this is a nutrient rich source for roots, and they will quickly be back at the water level to get more water and creating obstructions for debris to catch on and build back up.

 When applying into a manhole or sewer system, do you wear gloves or eye protection? When you stand over the manhole dumping it in are you wearing respiratory protection from the dust and fumes or are you potentially inhaling these contaminates? This is an acidic chemical and needs to be treated with care.

 Even with a Jetter applied chemical, you will still need to return yearly, but far less than pouring copper sulfate down the manhole.

 There is also an option for a root control grant available through OMAG. With this grant it will remove the roots for two years, but roots are living and always growing and will be back even with the best chemicals. The question becomes how frequently do you want to come back and retreat to keep from having another backup on the same section?

This is Why I'm Angry about Positive Leadership

It's ironic that I'm angry about Positive Leadership. Here's why... 

1. People mistakenly think positive leadership is about rah rah and motivation but it's really about optimism, grit, and building great relationships to help your team overcome challenges and succeed. 

2. People roll their eyes when they hear the term Positive Leadership. They think it's soft, weak, and annoying. The truth is Positive Leadership is about being mentally tough and delivering hard results. It attracts the right people to your team and organization. 

3. Positive Leadership gets a bad rap because people assume it's about Pollyanna's thinking. But it's not about ignoring reality. It’s about maintaining optimism and belief to create a better reality. 

4. Too many people think you have to choose between positivity and winning. They think positivity may be a nice way to lead but it’s not a serious way to lead. The truth is you don’t have to choose. Positive Leadership leads to winning. It’s the way to lead if you want to win. Just ask the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rams. Clemson Football. The Miami Heat. Tampa Bay Lightning and many other teams I’ve worked with embrace positive leadership and win. 

5. Far too many think that Positive Leaders ignore the negative and pretend everything is positive. The truth is Positive Leaders are the ones who confront the negative to remove it and create a positive, connected, and committed team. 

6. Critics assume Positive Leaders don’t hold people accountable. The truth is they are demanding just not demeaning. They encourage and challenge their team. They set a standard and then love them and hold them accountable to meet the standard. 

7. So yes, I'm angry that Positive Leadership is discounted and frowned upon by those who have no idea what it’s truly about. If they gave it a chance, they would realize it's how great leaders lead and have led throughout history. 

But I'm optimistic they will!

-Jon Gordon; www.JonGordon.com