The early to mid years of the 1980’s showed a volatile and sometimes limited market for township insurance coverages. The cost of insurance continued to increase and became very difficult to budget. The TOIRMA Program was developed through extensive research by insurance professionals and the direction of township officials familiar with township coverage problems. The intent of the TOIRMA Program continues as originally directed twenty-five years ago – to provide members with the most complete coverage available to Illinois townships at an affordable cost.
The TOIRMA Program was established effective June 1, 1986. It is a self-funded group pool as provided by the Joint Self-Insurance Section of the “Intergovernmental Cooperation Act” (Illinois Compiled Statutes). Townships/road districts which are members, in good standing, of the Township Officials of Illinois are eligible for membership. TOIRMA currently has 1,370 township/road district members and 312 multi-township assessing districts. We are humbled by the fact that we have achieved 100% renewal for 12 of the past 13 years
The TOIRMA Program provides a package of coverages for its members including General Liability, Auto Liability, Public Officials Liability, Property, Auto Physical Damage, Inland Marine, Workers’ Compensation, Treasurer’s Bond, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment. TOIRMA also includes coverages specific to townships/road districts such as Bridge Coverage ($50,000 limit) and the Human Resources Help Line.
Besides providing a full line of coverages tailored to the needs of townships, the TOIRMA Program also provides administrative support, underwriting, claims management, and loss control/risk management.
The Mission Statement provides that TOIRMA will maintain a stable contribution level and we are proud of that accomplishment. We also have a long-standing history of paying an annual dividend. This past year the Board of Trustees declared a dividend of 15% that will return $1,895,646 to 1,327 qualifying members. During the 21-year history of dividends, $29,295,195 has been returned.
The TOIRMA Program is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of five elected township officials. The board is responsible for monitoring the operations of TOIRMA and works closely with the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the TOIRMA Program.
At the request of the TOIRMA Board of Trustees, a client satisfaction survey is conducted annually to evaluate the TOIRMA Program. All surveys are reviewed and acted upon accordingly.
The TOIRMA Program is audited annually to assess the accounting principles used and to evaluate the overall financial condition. An actuarial study is also conducted annually to measure the costs of providing coverages and estimating reserves for unpaid losses.
Service to our members remains a priority of the TOIRMA Program. If we can be of assistance to you, please contact Rod Beck, Executive Director or Jim Donelan, Associate Director at the TOIRMA Executive Office in Springfield at 888‑562‑7861. You can reach the staff in the Danville Office at 800-252-5059 as follows:
Simphi Lenover, Account Manager - Ext. 1128
Beth Eyrich, Underwriter - Ext. 1139
Katie Musgrave, Claim Supervisor - Ext. 1349
Jeremy Deck, Marketing/Loss Control - Ext. 1384
Matt Knight, Loss Control - Ext. 1387
The TOIRMA Board of Trustees has declared a dividend to all eligible members for the 21st consecutive year. Members that have participated in the TOIRMA program for the previous five consecutive years are eligible. This represents 15% of the annual contribution for the June 1, 2006 – May 31, 2007 program year. The dividend checks were mailed on March 15, 2012 to the TOIRMA contact and are clearly marked “VOID 60 DAYS FROM ISSUE DATE.” Please make sure the funds are deposited in a timely manner. Under the Public Funds Deposit Act [30 ILCS 225/1] monies received by a township, road district or a multi-township assessment district must be deposited within two working days.
The TOIRMA Summer 2012 Newsletter will be mailed late May. A copy is posted on the Newsletter/Poster page of this website. This edition includes articles relating to safety, frequently asked questions, TOIRMA tidbits, TOIRMA Calendar, TOIRMA membership totals, common summer claims, TOIRMA dividend, and more.
We have had several questions lately about the minimum age of employment. TOIRMA recommends that you do not employ anyone under the age of 18, however, the decision is ultimately made by the township. Don't ever hesitate to contact the Child Labor Hot Line if you are unsure of the job restrictions - it is 800-645-5784. The Child Labor Law Information number is 312-793-2804. One of the most common Child Labor Laws states "no minor under 16 years of age shall be employed, permitted or allowed to work...about or in connection with power-driven machinery." For additional resources, you can access information at www.state.il.us/agency/idol/forms/pdfs/FLSCLL03.pdf, www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/agerequirements.htm, or www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/docs/haznonag.asp.
Don't forget to call for help with employee issues. For more information, see Related Information.
Jim Donelan joined the TOIRMA Program on February 7, 2011 as the Associate Director. That name may sound familiar as Jim was the Associate Director of the Township Officials of Illinois from 2001-2005. Jim has spent the last five years as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Springfield. Jim and his wife, Cassie, have a twelve-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. He is looking forward to learning all phases of the TOIRMA Program. Welcome Jim!