FREDERICKSBURG - The Bethel Township supervisors recently discovered that they've been overpaying insurance costs for the Fredericksburg Fire Co. since 2004.

While vehicle liability insurance for the other fire companies in the township - Camp Strauss and Mt. Zion fire companies - usually comes in at about $1,000 annually, the township is paying about $6,000 each year for the Fredericksburg company.

Chairman Beverly Martel explained that, while the township pays vehicle liability insurance for all three companies, for unknown reasons, the township has been paying full coverage for Fredericksburg.

For the past few years, the premium for the Fredericksburg company wasn't noticeably higher than the other two companies, so the difference wasn't that much of an issue. But recently, the premiums have become appreciably more, prompting the township to wonder why.

"Now we're paying about $5,000 more, and we really do need to look into that," Martel said. "The township has been paying all their insurance for all their equipment."

While the insurance company sends the township the bills, the insurance provider sends the fire companies the policies, and the lack of shared information contributed to the discrepancy.

"We need to check into that because we don't pay all the insurance for the other two companies," Martel said, explaining that the township wanted to be fair to all three companies.

Two residents attending the township meeting voiced opinions that all vehicle insurance should be paid by the township for all three companies.


"These are all volunteers that get up in the middle of the night to take care of us," said Dale Snader, a farmer and township resident. "You should pay all the insurance for all three companies; that's the direction you should be going in."

Supervisor Terry Knapp said paying all insurance for the three companies might be too much of an expense for the township.

One woman, who refused to give her name, expressed surprise that the township had been paying full coverage for nine years before realizing it.

"Since we don't have cops anymore, can't it be brought to the board to pay for all three companies," she asked.

The woman also said she supported the fire companies and said the township should do whatever it can for them.

In other matters, Knapp expressed appreciation to First National Bank of Fredericksburg for donating $1,000 to pay for entertainment this summer in the Bethel Township Lions Park.

The schedule includes the Northern Lebanon High School Alumni Band on July 14, Cristabelle and the Goose Creek Boys on July 21 and the Brothers in Grace Gospel Quartet on July 28. All performance start at 2 p.m.

No admission is charged for the performances, Knapp said.

On Aug. 10, a blood drive by the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank will be held at the township office from 8 a.m. to noon.