Statement About Insurance From The County Executive

This is the statement that was released by the County Executive, Mrs Janet Vanzant, explaining the situation that exist with the county insurance and the request for public records. This is the complete unabridged statement.

“The Offices of the Giles County Financial Management and the Giles county Executive have fully complied with all requests made by Commissioner Wendell Wilburn for the inspection and copying of insurance documents. All comments to the contrary are false and misleading. County Executive Janet Vanzant personally invites all citizens to freely inspect any available document that currently is in the possession of any county employee. The only requirement is that the request be in writing and payment of $.15 per page copied be made in advance. The documents will be provided within at least seven (7) days of the request.”

“Prior to June 17th, 2009, Commissioner Wilburn made a verbal request for a copy of insurance invoices. The request was compiled with fully and the invoices from Alsup & Associates were given to Commissioner Wilburn. The invoice that the County pays for insurance, and given to Commissioner Wilburn, reflects the amount that was successfully bid by our local agent. The County does not, nor has it ever, received the invoice from Local Governament Insurance Pool to the local agent, Mr. Alsup.”

“Commissioner Wilburn has been quoted as saying that a County employee told him on several occasions that this informations “was none of his business.” However, Commissioner Wilburn has never provided any details regarding this claim. The office of the County Executive is requesting that Commissioner Wilburn immediately disclose with whom he spoke so the validity of this accusation can be properly investigated and accurately reported.”

“According to the Pulaski Free Press on October 20th, 2009, Commissioner Wilburn claimed that he could save Giles County up to $750,000 in insurance premiums. However, nothing has been provided by Commissioner Wilburn to support this claim. Apparently, Commissioner Wilburn has either retracted that statement, or has denied making it all together. Commissioner Wilburn also claims that Giles County is paying substantially more than other Tennessee counties. Unfortunately, if that claim is true, nothing has been provided by him to the Financial Management Office so it may invite additional carriers for future bids. In order to adequately compare the cost, the Financial Management Office needs to know what are the other county’s deductibles, experience ratings, property values, etc.”

“Commissioner Wilburn also claims the insurance provided by the County is not being set out for bid. Again, that claim is false and misleading. The Office of Financial Management bids out insurance on a (3) three-year basis as required by law. One such bid is currently being advertised in the local paper at this very time.”

Signed……Janet Vanzant.