Staudenmeier re-elected to chair PCoRP board

Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier will again chair the Pennsylvania County Risk Pool. Staudenmeier has served on the 14-member board for 18 years and chaired the board for 12 years. He is the longest-serving chairman in the PCoRP’s 36-year history.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with people from other counties, and I’m honored by the confidence the board shows in me,” Staudenmeier said. “Having that network, and sharing ideas and knowledge, has been very beneficial for us, and all the counties that belong. It helps all the counties save significant amounts of money.”

The Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool was created by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania as a result of the “hard market” in liability insurance in the mid-1980s. Many Pennsylvania counties could not obtain liability and other insurance coverages, and if they could find a company willing to cover the county, the cost was usually prohibitive. Counties turned to their association for assistance.

PCoRP was formed in April 1987. Based on the All Lines Aggregate insurance concept, the program is a unique combination of self-insurance, commercial insurance and loss control. With 30 years in operation, 57 counties and county-related entities presently participate in PCoRP. The program assists counties with their property, liability, auto and other insurance needs, Staudenmeier said.

The 14-member board includes county commissioners, chief clerks, risk managers and county administrators.

“We (the board) meet three times a year and also have a yearly retreat where we discuss insurance issues, and any issues that need to be addressed,” Staudenmeier said. “One of the ideas that came about through PCoRP was the idea that counties have a risk manager.”

Staudenmeier said that a risk manager can research the best workplace policies and make sure county workers and officials are following safety rules and regulations. The risk manager also organizes meetings of safety committees. Schuylkill County’s risk manager is Glen Roth.