WESTOVER — In 2022, the city of Westover’s liability insurer paid out just under $1.2 million in settlements to close three lawsuits brought against the city, including two alleging violent misconduct by former officers with the Westover Police Department.
As a result, the city’s liability coverage through the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management (BRIM) more than doubled, from $165,000 to $342,280.
Now, BRIM wants out of Westover altogether.
Westover City Council on Monday approved the move to WVcorp, the public entity risk pool established in 2007, at an annual cost of $323,931.
“Our last carrier lost money on us, and they didn’t want to insure us anymore,” Attorney Tim Stranko explained following the meeting.
“The bottom line is we’ve lowered our cost for insurance, and we’ve improved our coverage. Now we’re no longer dealing with the state government. We’re dealing with a private company.”
BRIM is a state agency that provides property and liability insurance to governmental bodies within West Virginia.
WVcorp currently provides coverage for 49 of the state’s 55 counties, including Monongalia. It opened the pool to municipalities in 2020. According to information on the WVcorp website, Westover is the first city in Monongalia County to make the switch.
In other Westover news, Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said work is underway to turn part of the former Shop ‘n Save parking lot into the future home of a Dollar Tree store.
According to Stinespring, DT Retail Properties purchased two of three available parcels. The third, upon which the old Shop ‘n Save sits, remains for sale.
“I think they want it to be done by February or March. So, they’re going to be moving on it pretty quick,” he said of the Dollar Tree.
Lastly, council approved a $16,600 bid from Titan Roofing to put a new metal roof on the Westside Senior Center and pavilion.
