WEIRTON — The City of Weirton appears to plan to remain with its current property and liability insurance provider, to include an increase in cost, with a decision by city council expected Monday.

The city’s Finance Committee met Friday morning, recommending a contract with Traveller’s Insurance, provided through Assure America, for the next year.

The city also received a proposal from West Virginia Corp., provided through Assured Partners.

“These are insurance vehicles which work in different ways,” City Manager Mike Adams said.

According to Adams, Traveller’s is a traditional approach to insurance, where the city receives coverage through the payment of a premium, while West Virginia Corp. is a risk pool program providing coverage through money contributed by a collective of cities and counties.

The Traveller’s proposal, according to Adams, saw an increase from $544,000 to $604,000 for the year, but would be reduced to $573,000 when applying the city’s 5% vendor preference as Assure America is located in Weirton.

He noted the increase takes into account the addition of the former Weirton Transit Corp. as a municipal department, taking on additional costs for Transit employees and vehicles.

“You kind of have to add that in when considering these proposals,” Adams said, noting the former Weirton Transit had carried its own insurance coverage, through the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management, with a premium of approximately $67,000.

The Traveller’s plan also took into account increases in value of property owned by the city, Adams said.

While the West Virginia Corp. proposal was lower, at approximately $497,000, Adams explained it did not include the Transit additions or changes in property value.

“I’m not sure all the numbers worked out right,” Adams said. “It’s really not an apples to apples bid.”

In other business Friday, the Finance Committee recommended a resolution authorizing revisions to the 2024-25 fiscal General Fund budget, a contract with Aster Oilfield Services Inc., at a cost of $4,025, for the asbestos abatement of structures at 318 Howard St., and a contract with Pulice Demolition, at $6,890, for the demolition of the same structures, as well as a contract with Pulice for the asbestos abatement and demolition of structures at 170 Franklin St., at a cost of $6,900.