Summer Brings More Than Warm Weather!
By Lynn Bren, SDPAA Director of Member Services
As we are looking forward to those longer days and shorter sleeves, the children in our communities are getting ready to participate in all the clubs and activities that the summer break from school has to offer. How does this impact your entity?
There are various clubs and groups that utilize governmental property for various reasons. They may host events that involve numerous spectators or small meetings that involve only the participants. The question that you need to ask yourself is, how are their property and liability exposures covered? Are you sponsoring the events or activities of these clubs and groups or should they be securing coverage elsewhere?
One of the organizations that use the facilities of many governmental entities is 4H. The South Dakota 4H opportunity is delivered through the South Dakota State University Extension Program and iGrow. Liability exposures arising out of 4H related activities would not be covered by the County, as they are not a County sponsored
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event or activity. Additionally, property that is not owned by the County may not be afforded coverage even though it is traditionally housed at a County owned location.
In other communities, baseball and softball associations are gearing up for their spring training, if they haven’t already started via indoor facilities. The groups often seek the use of City owned parks and ball diamonds, concession stands and rest room facilities. If these groups are not formed as part of the City’s entity, they would not be subject the coverage benefits secured by the City for the City. Many of these groups presume that they are part of the City because they have ‘always been’ covered that way, when in fact, they may not have had liability coverage for incidents arising out of their events. Each of these groups may be requesting that you store or house their supplies in-between games, meetings or other events. It is important to determine who is bearing the responsibility for that property while it is stored with you, but is not owned by you. Having conversations with the administrators of your 4H
SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES
