Tioga County receives risk award

At the New York Association of Counties 2014 Fall Seminar held last week at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, the County of Tioga was honored by receiving the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR) Risk Management Award, that is given annually in recognition of a member municipality’s commitment to sound risk management, safety and training efforts. The award was presented at the NYSAC Business Meeting and Inaugural Luncheon attended by more than 500 county officials from all across New York State.

The award’s inscription reads: “In recognition of a commitment to sound risk management, safety and training that makes a difference.” The award was presented to the Chair of the County Legislature Martha Sauerbrey by NYSAC’s Executive Director Stephen Acquario together with NYMIR’s Executive Director Kevin Crawford. The county’s insurance is brokered through the Partners Agency from Vestal, N.Y.

In presenting the glass crystal award, Crawford stated, “Effective risk management requires a team approach, everyone working together to reduce the liability and exposures which are inherent in so many local government operations. In the case of Tioga County, they have demonstrated again and again that risk management and safety is an important value, which they integrate into the day-to-day operations of all their departments.

He added, “The fact is that the County has stood out among the 832 counties, cities, towns, and villages who now participate as members and owners in the NYMIR insurance reciprocal. They have a group of officials and employees who are dedicated to safety and take risk management into account and are proud to do so. Likewise, NYMIR is proud to recognize their efforts today.”

“NYMIR’s outstanding results year after year are a testament to aggressive risk management programs which have been embraced enthusiastically by its membership,” noted Stephen Acquario.

He continued, “Those results have permitted NYMIR to stabilize and reduce premium levels while returning more than ten million dollars in capital funds back to its members over the past six years. We also are proud to have played a small role in helping the county rebound from the difficulties presented by the flooding they experienced in 2006 and again in 2011 and look forward to many more years of a fruitful partnership with them.”