- October 31, 2024
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Flagler County's government will be creating a new administrative position: an in-house risk manager.
The County Commission approved the creation of the new position during its regular meeting June 3.
The decision follows the filing of more than two dozen workers compensation claims by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office employees last year over illnesses the employees believed were related to conditions at the former Sheriff’s Operations Center on State Road 100, which has since been evacuated due to mold.
“Risk management is an important function, and when I discovered that we didn’t have a risk manager per se, I looked into it,” County Administrator Jerry Cameron said at the meeting. “Our rates are considerably higher because of our experience; that would have been corrected to a large degree by having a risk manager on board. We’re paying, I believe the number was, approximately $150,000 more a year in premiums because of our experience.”
A county staff document lays out the reason for the new position: "This position is critical in the management of worker’s compensation and property and casualty claims to aid in reducing safety issues that may expose the County to insurance claims and litigation," it states. "This position will assess and identify potential risks that may hinder the safety and financial prosperity of the County and implement plans and strategies to minimize losses and reduce insurance rates."
At this point, the county's administrative assistant and its human resources director in doing that work "in a limited capacity," according to the document.
The position will pay $51,500 to $85,009 annually, plus benefits that would cost an additional $18,905 to $24,373.
The expected combined salary and benefits for the time the position is expected to be filled within the 2019 fiscal year would be $20,310 to $31,560. For 2020, it would be $70,406 to $109,383.
Flagler County is facing “a number of deficiencies in the fire services,” according to County Administrator Jerry Cameron.
“We have fire stations that are in desperate need of replacement," he said. "We have fire equipment that should be kept inside that is being kept outside. … So, there are a lot of issues surrounding fire services that we need to get to.”
Some residents who spoke during the meeting’s public comment period asked about the possibility of having the county’s emergency helicopter, called FireFlight, moved to full-time service: Currently, the emergency helicopter is only available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
County Commissioner Donald O’Brien said the commission could discuss extending the helicopter's hours when the board makes budget decisions.
