In Brief: City to pay about $59K more for insurance this year

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The City of Bathurst will pay thousands of dollars more for insurance this year.

Council passed a motion to approve the renewal for nine insurance policies with BFL Canada Risk and Insurance Inc. during the Feb. 5 regular public meeting at a cost of $567,707 for the year.

City solicitor Marc André LaPlante told council the policies increased by about $59,000 for 2024, compared to the cost in 2023.

LaPlante said about $23,000 of the increase stems from civil liability caused by past claims. He said about $35,000 stems from an increase in property and equipment that needs to be insured.

“The value of our building, vehicles, equipment has increased. Our rates have increased a bit as well,” he said.

Coun. Michael Willett questioned if the city is pursuing other avenues for insurance since the costs have been increasing steadily over the past number of years.

City Manager Todd Pettigrew said the topic is being discussed with other municipalities and “it’s an ongoing process but definitely we’re investigating all options.”

The new policies expire Jan. 1, 2025.

Municipal service easement

Council has passed a motion to approve a local government service easement to access city infrastructure located on private property.

Pettigrew said the city did work on Helen Street in 1999, which included the installation of a storm sewer, which is located on two privately owned properties on that street.

The city recently discovered there was no municipal service easement put into place when the initial work was completed, he said.

The owners agreed to allow the city access and have the proper documentation put in place, Pettigrew said.

“It’s a roughly six-meter-wide access to allow us to access our storm sewer for repairs.”