Next Generation Underwriters Inc. welcomes new member, Double Springs Utility District to the Tennessee Risk Management Trust.

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 | Insurance Topics | No Comments

We are pleased to announce that Double Springs Utility District has joined the Tennessee Risk Management Trust. Located just west of Cookeville on Hwy. 70N, Double Springs Utility District serves all of the Southwestern portion of Putnam County including the Baxter Community. Angie Buyers, General Manager for the utility states that Double Springs currently has 2631 customers just west of the City of Cookeville in an area that has seen steady growth over the past 10 years.

We are pleased with our partnership with Next Generation Underwriters and the Tennessee Risk Management Trust. They have provided us an opportunity to help meet our budget recommendations while expanding and replacing the coverage’s from our previous insurance program. We are extremely pleased to be working with an Associate Member of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) who believes in the Mission Statement of providing its members with the best products and services for Tennessee Utilities.

Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com

Tornadoes

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 | Insurance Topics | No Comments

Webster’s Dictionary defines a tornado as A whirling, violent windstorm accompanied by a funnel shaped cloud that travels a narrow path over land, a whirlwind. The National Weather Service defines a tornado as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the earth’s surface and commonly associated with a severe thunder-storm.

Tornadoes are the most powerful, unpredictable and destructive weather systems on Earth. Tornadoes are vertical funnels of rapidly spinning air. Their winds may top 250 miles an hour and can clear cut a pathway a mile long. Tornadoes are born in thunder-storms and are often accompanied by hail. The thunderstorms develop in warm moist air in advance of eastward-moving cold fronts. Tornadoes can appear from any direction, most move from west to east.

Rain, wind, lightning and hail characteristics vary from storm to storm. While large hail can indicate the presence of an unusually dangerous thunderstorm and can happen before a tornado, this is not a reliable predictor of a tornado threat. A particular pattern of rain, lightning or calmness is also not a reliable predictor of a tornado threat.

Tornadoes can last from several seconds to more than an hour. Most last less than 10 minutes. The most common tornado sound is a continuous rumble, like a close by train. Sometimes a tornado produces a loud whooshing that sounds like that of a waterfall or of open car windows while driving very fast. Tornadoes that are tearing through densely populated areas may be producing all kind of loud noises at once, which together make a tremendous roar. BUT, any intense thunderstorm wind can produce damage and cause a roar.

Tornadoes take may shapes and sizes. 69% of all tornadoes are weak tornadoes, they last 1 to 10 minutes with winds less than 110 miles per hour. 29% of all tornadoes are strong tornadoes and can last 20 minutes or longer with winds of 110 to 205 miles per hour. Only 2 % of all tornadoes are violent tornadoes. These contribute to 70% of all tornado deaths.

Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year. In the southern states, peak tornado occurrences is in March through May, while peak months in the northern states are during the summer.

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, take immediate safety precautions. There are many myths associated with tornado safety. One is to open windows to equalize pressure. Opening a window is absolutely useless. If the tornado hits your house, the windows will be opened by the blast. Another is if you are outside during a storm, take cover under a bridge. This is another dangerous idea for many reasons, i.e. flying debris can still be blasted in the space under the bridge; even if you are holding tightly to the girders under the bridge, you can still be blown away; the bridge itself may collapse and fall on you. What if I am in my vehicle? Vehicles are notorious as death traps in tornadoes, because they are easily tossed and destroyed. Either leave the vehicle for sturdy shelter or drive very fast out of the tornado’s path if you can. If the tornado appears to be headed right at you, you must take shelter immediately away from the car.

If threatening weather approaches, move to a pre-designated shelter. If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Stay away from windows. Get out of automobiles. If you are in a mobile home, abandon it immediately.

Stay informed about storm by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for the latest warnings.

Donna Robinson
Customer Service Representative
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
drobinson@nguins.com

American Development Corporation host Region 6 Meeting for TAUD Members.

Friday, April 24th, 2009 | Where we will be | No Comments

Region 6 Leader and General Manager of Lewisburg Water & Wastewater Mr. Kenneth Carr welcomed over 65 TAUD Members to Fayetteville and ADC on April 22nd. This meeting also served as the ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’ for Region 6. Dan Martin of TAUD served as administrator for the contest which included 9 Utilities Districts submitting samples. Judges for contest included Barbara Wood, former Marshall County Principal (retired) Joe Leggett County Executive from Marshall County, Joe Young Owner of a local radio station in Fayetteville, Peggy Bevels Lincoln County Executive from Fayetteville.

While the contest was taken place, members from Region 6 heard reports from Rural Development and the Environmental Field Office. Dewayne Culpepper Wastewater Technician from TAUD gave a report on the latest regulatory guidelines for Utility Districts that offer wastewater services.

Our featured speaker and presenter Mr. Pete Trautman of Underground Solutions was unable to be at the meeting. His presentation was to be on underground fusible pipe. Jumping in to save the day was, Keith Ramsey of the Danfoss Drives Corporation. Danfoss makes drive motors for water and wastewater pump systems. Keith gave a presentation on the Danfoss Systems that can be purchased through TAUD Associate Member Doug Miller of ECO-TECH Inc. When the presentation was complete the winner of the ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’ for Region 6 was announced. Congratulations to the Lincoln County Board of Utilities for winning Region 6. They will now go on to compete for the State Championship in June over in Memphis.

Kenneth Carr thanked Keith Ramsey for jumping in with his power point presentation at the last minute to provide the members of Region 6 with a quality program.

Glen ‘Piggy’ Parks of ADC provided the door prizes as members enjoyed a great home cooked meal from the employees of American Development Corporation. Attendees had the option of an afternoon of Skeet Shooting or a round of Golf at the Fayetteville Country Club following the lunch.

A special ‘Thank You’ to Mike Wethington and his staff at American Development Corporation for their hospitality.

Many staff members from TAUD where at a meeting in Washington D.C. and could not attend the Region 6 meeting.

Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com

Region 1 Meets at Comfort Inn in Greeneville for “Best Tasting Water Contest” on April 16.

Friday, April 24th, 2009 | Where we will be | No Comments

Fred Hicks, Region 1 Leader welcomed a large gathering of over 83 attendees with 10 utilities participating in the “Best Tasting Water Contest” for the quarterly meeting in Greeneville. Region 1 has been able to boast the largest attendance for the Regional meetings with an average attendance of around 102 for the past two years. The meeting room at the Comfort Inn was jam packed to hear the program sponsored by W&W Engineering LLC, Central Services Association and Wascon Inc.

Roger Booher, Water Circuit Rider from TAUD presented a report from the State Legislature and the bills that TAUD would monitor closely and the effects on the TAUD members. Members in attendance also received a presentation on the new ‘TUPBA’ Tennessee Utility Public Building Authority program and the benefits of using this new low interest loan option. This is a partnership between TAUD and Wiley Brothers-Aintree Capital. This program is not intended to take the place of the Rural Development program but serve as an option for financing shovel ready projects. For more information on this program, go to www.taud.org.

Members then heard reports from TDEC, Rural Development and First Tennessee Development District.

Dewayne Culpepper, Wastewater Technician for TAUD gave members a report on the latest regulatory guidelines for utilities that handle wastewater. Also on hand was Dan Martin, Wastewater Technician from TAUD. Dan handled the “Best Tasting Water Contest” for Region 1. The winner for Region 1 was ‘Bloomingdale Utility District of Kingsport, Tennessee. Congratulations to Fred Hicks and his staff at Bloomingdale Utility District.

Prior to lunch, Glen ‘Piggy’ Parks of American Development Corporation conducted the door prize drawings for the members in attendance. We thank Mike Wetherington, President of ADC and ‘Piggy’ for providing the door prizes for all the Regional meetings.

We also thank W&W Engineering LLC, CSA, and Wascon Inc. for sponsoring lunch.

Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com

CLAIMS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Claims Questions | No Comments

Is an injured employee paid for lost time away from work to attend a doctor appointment, follow-up appointment, physical therapy or any type of Diagnostic testing during work hours?

-No, not unless it is a company policy.

Please refer to your company employee handbook as this policy can vary.

Kathy Kinard
Claims Representative
Safety Engineering Consultants
615.826.4274
kkinard@sectn.com

Builders Risk Insurance

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Insurance Topics | No Comments

School Districts throughout Tennessee may be in the process of planning renovation projects on existing buildings or are planning to build new buildings. In both cases, a builders risk policy is needed to insure proper coverage. Coverage needs to be in place by the time ground preparation has been completed. In some cases, the builder/architect includes the coverage in the project bid. If not, Next Generation Underwriters can place this coverage for the school. The coverage is written on an all risk basis and can include flood and earthquake, depending on the location of the property.

This is a relatively simple process. The following application needs to be completed and returned to Betsey Sullivan via fax, 615-824-1980 or by email, bsullivan@nguins.com. Click here for the application.

Coverage can normally be quoted and bound with 48 hours. We don’t want any of our members or other school districts to be in a position of being involved in a construction project and not realize builders risk coverage is needed until a loss occurs.

Betsey Sullivan
Customer Service Representative
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
bsullivan@nguins.com

Region 8 holds meeting at Gibson County EMA office for TAUD members

Monday, April 20th, 2009 | Where we will be | No Comments

Dewayne Culpepper of TAUD gave members a report on the Wastewater regulations that will soon go into effect. Larry Lewis of TAUD reported on the Emergency Preparedness Classes Workshop that are available to members. A small report on surface water followed.

Holly Austin of TN811 gave a presentation on the changes with line locations and how to locate older non-registered lines.

The Judges for the Region 8 ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’ were, Tony Burris- Mayor of Trenton, Joe Sheppard- Mayor of Gibson County, Kirk Smith- Next Generation Underwriters Inc., Carmen Leister-Central Services Association and Danny Jones-Trenton Gazette.

With a total of 10 Utility Districts competing for the top honor, it was a close contest as the Judges preformed the taste test for clarity, bouquet and overall taste. This was the closest contest this season as far as scoring went reported Larry Lewis of TAUD. After totaling up the score cards, the Winner was announced. Moving on to the State Championship this June in Memphis is, ‘City of Martin Utilities’. Congratulations to General Manager Charles Vowell, Water Operator Marty Ables and Kelly Taylor Water Operator from the City of Martin.

At the conclusion of the Water Contest, members enjoyed a catered home cooked lunch sponsored by TDEC, RDA and TAUD.

Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com