In this episode, Scott talks about Robert Greenleaf’s seminal essay “The Servant as Leader.” Servant leadership is not about a personal quest for power, prestige, or material rewards. Instead, from this perspective, leadership begins with a true motivation to serve others. Scott is joined by a special guest — his Dad (hey, the price was right) — who speaks about one man’s experience practicing the philosophy over 50 years in business.

In this episode, Scott explains some of the practical and legal issues related to hiring remote employees, whether in Texas or out-of-state, and interviews several Risk Pool employees with expertise in the subject.

In this episode, Scott interviews Dripping Springs City Attorney and Texas City Attorneys Association Board Member Laura Mueller. In it, Laura explains how the law limits the circumstances in which a city or other local government can drug test its employees. Lots of entities are improperly drug testing employees, and this short interview can help set them straight. Check out the podcast as usual or watch the interview by clicking on the video.

In this special, abbreviated episode, Scott welcomes you back from the TML Annual Conference and Exhibition and explains more about the TML Risk Pool and what we offer our Members. He describes a few of the Pool’s most important Member benefits and encourages elected officials to learn more by reviewing the 50th Anniversary Pamphlet. In it, you’ll learn about why TML created the Pool, why we’re the best value proposition for cities, and our coverages and loss prevention services. Reach out to Scott at scott.houston@tmlirp.org with questions or comments!

In this episode, Scott explains State of Texas code enforcement officer certification and training, and he interviews City of Irving Assistant City Manager Teresa Adrian, Code Enforcement Director Shain Diller, and Deputy City Attorney Janet Spugnardi about practical and legal challenges related to code enforcement.

Join special guest host Victor Flores, Mission City Attorney and TML Risk Pool Board of Trustees member, as he explains (in Spanish): (1) that the TML Risk Pool provides property, liability, workers’ compensation, and cyber coverage; (2) that the Pool’s loss prevention department can provide resources to keep employees safe while at work. 

In this special episode, Scott interviews Pool Deputy Director and C.O.O. Lindsey Fields about reinsurance — what it is, why the Pool has it, and how the Pool uses it. 

In this special episode, Scott interviews Pool Executive Director Jeff Thompson about the major rate drivers and their effect on your 2023 rerates, the state of the Pool, and more. 

In this episode, Scott interviews Mike Rains. Mike is retiring after 37 years of service to the Pool and its Members. Listen to Mike’s insights about the Pool’s growth over his almost four-decade tenure.

Explains: (1) that the Texas Municipal League prepares an outstanding edition of Texas Town and City Magazine in January of legislative years called “How Cities Work;” and (2) reviews ways a city official can use the magazine to educate legislators and others.

In this episode, you’ll get to know City of Live Oak Mayor Mary M. Dennis, who was recently chosen to lead to Pool’s Board of Trustees. Scott and/or Mary would love to come speak at your event about the benefits of Pool Membership.

Explains: (1) several criminal offenses for which a local official can be indicted; (2) criminal offenses that can be perpetrated against a local government; and (3) various crime coverages offered by the Pool.

In this episode, special guest host Tamara Chafin, the Risk Pool’s Communications Officer, explains: (1) the role a Member Services Manager (MSM), plays at the Pool; and (2) interviews 2 of our MSMs: Linda Morvant and Marc Rodriguez.

In this episode, Scott: (1) explains the basics of the Public Information Act; and (2) interviews three city secretaries and an open government analyst for practical tips and advice.

Explains: (1) that work-related local government information held on private devices or in private accounts is public information; and (2) that a local government official or employee is a “temporary custodian” responsible for maintaining that information according to certain procedures.

Explains preliminary forecasts, lessons from Florida’s Hurricane Ian last year, SynergyNDS (one of the Pool’s turnkey recovery partners), and more.

Explains: (1) the most important aspect of preparing for and recovering from damage caused by a hurricane; and (2) links below to a video of a comprehensive workshop presentation on the subject.

In this episode, Scott interviews Jeff Thompson (Risk Pool Executive Director) to get Jeff’s thoughts on the state of the Pool, rerates, and more.

In this episode, you’ll hear: (1) about the STP Series and how it can help elected officials and other local officials and employees keep their citizens, employees, volunteers, and property safe, all while saving public dollars; (2) from a podcast fan and the Pool’s Executive Director about the benefits of the series; and (3) segments from three special episodes.

Explains: (1) the importance of shifting risk to the appropriate parties to a contract; and (2) the essential provisions that should be included in any major or high-exposure contract.

Explains: (1) the three most common human resources challenges and opportunities for local government employees; (2) training provided by the Pool to address behaviors that cause unhealthy conflict in the workplace.

The year 2023 has seen multiple city employee struck-by fatalities on Texas roadways. The TML Risk Pool’s goal is to reduce that to zero in 2024, and we’ve developed a program to do just that. R.O.A.D. Ready is a Risk Pool program designed to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property by raising member awareness of dangers on and near roadways, and January is R.O.A.D. Ready month. Listen in to learn how you can participate and stop one of your employees from being a statistic. 

R.O.A.D. Ready is a Risk Pool program designed to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property by raising Member awareness of dangers on and near roadways.  The Pool will provide participating Members with: (1) specifically designed resources and training to mitigate roadway risks; and (2) promotional materials to show they are R.O.A.D. Ready.
 
The Pool launched the program in January 2022 and has designated each successive January as R.O.A.D. Ready month. To participate, a Member should: (1) make a commitment to becoming R.O.A.D. Ready by providing internal roadway safety training or using the Pool’s resources to do so; and (2) participating in national roadway, vehicle, or work zone programs.
 
In this episode, you’ll hear more about why this initiative came about and why it’s so important.

Mentions a recent Texas Observer assertion that the Pool mistreated three first responders and explains that: (1) the Pool never tries to claw back benefits already received in a benefits determination appeal; (2) the workers’ compensation beneficiary determination process can seem calloused; and (3) appeal lawsuits are about determining who is the appropriate beneficiary.

Listen to "Workers' Compensation: First Responder Disease Presumption," the second part of the tenth episode in the TML Risk Pool’s STP Series. 
 
The TML Risk Pool provides workers’ compensation coverage for thousands of first responders. State law provides a special workers’ comp benefit to those employees, known as the disease presumption law. Simply put, the law “presumes” that first responders contracted certain diseases on the job for purposes of workers’ comp benefits. In this episode, you’ll hear about the presumption, how it’s administered, and how the Pool partners with Members to help guide them through the complex process.

The TML Risk Pool provides workers’ compensation coverage for more than 200,000 local government employees, and receives around 10,000 claims per year. The Workers’ Compensation Department is the largest of all the Pool’s departments, largely because the workers compensation process is highly-regulated by the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of Insurance. In this episode, you’ll hear from key Pool staff about the process and how it’s administered, most importantly how we partner with Members to help guide them through the complex process.

Texas Government Code Section 2054.5191 mandates cybersecurity training for local government employees, elected officials, and appointed officials who have access to a local government computer system or database and use a computer to perform at least 25 percent of their duties. The training must be certified by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) — both this podcast and the YouTube video linked to the left are DIR-approved.
 
This episode isn’t some boring episode. Instead, join the Risk Pool Cyber Guy — Ryan Burns — and his buddy — Hacker Hank — as they discuss ways that “Hank Hacks” trick local government employees into sending money, downloading ransomware, and more!
 
The State requires compliance certification.

A local government has two tracking options:

1. A local governmental entity can keep track of participants internally. The easiest and most common method for most entities is to simply keep a written list or use an Excel spreadsheet.
2. To assist a local governmental entity with tracking, DIR has developed an optional tracking tool, Texas by Texas (TxT). This method is probably most useful, for example, for a larger entity to track individual completion of hundreds of employees. Individual participants report completion to the TxT application, which sends a report to the entity showing who has completed the training.

And once a local government entity’s required participants have completed the training, the entity must certify its compliance to DIR using the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments form by August 31 of each year. (The entity certifies compliance of all its required participants to DIR once per year — individuals do not certify compliance to DIR.)

In this eye-opening episode, Scott interviews City of Tomball Assistant City Manager Jessica Rogers. Cyber-criminals hacked Tomball at the end of 2022, and the city is still — one year later — dealing with the aftermath. In this episode — which should be required listening for every city manager in Texas (and beyond) — Jessica explains exactly what it’s like to have essentially every computer system go down, including 9-1-1 dispatch, utility metering and billing, permitting, and everything in between. She’ll also describe the long road to getting everything up and running. Don’t miss our chance to learn from this chill-inducing story.

In this episode, Scott introduces the second of several short cybersecurity training videos. This isn’t some boring webinar. No way. Instead, join the Risk Pool Cyber Guy, Ryan Burns, and his buddy Hacker Hank as they continue to educate you about all sorts of cyber perils. These videos are hilarious! You can listen in traditional podcast format, but you’ll be missing out if you don’t watch the nine-minute YouTube video version linked next to this episode! If you can identify which pool employee plays Hacker Hank, email Scott at scott.houston@tmlirp.org for the chance to win a prize!

In this episode, Scott introduces the first of several short cyber security training videos. This isn’t some boring webinar. No way. Instead, join the Risk Pool Cyber Guy, Ryan Burns – and his buddy Hacker Hank – as they discuss “Hank’s Hacks,” which are the most common ways a hacker tricks local government employees into sending money, downloading ransomware, and more. This video is hilarious!  You can listen in traditional podcast format, but you’ll be missing out if you don’t watch the nine-minute YouTube video version linked next to this episode! If you can identify which pool employee plays Hacker Hank, email Scott at scott.houston@tmlirp.org for the chance to win a prize!

Local governments, in addition to the nuts-and-bolts services they provide, are actually just as much in the business of providing and maintaining information, and local officials should recognize that they should work at it just as hard at protecting that information as they do providing law enforcement and maintaining streets and water lines.

You’ve got to think of cybersecurity as part of your daily work serving and protecting your residents.  In today’s world, you just can’t afford to be unprepared – that’s true whether your population is 250,000 or 250.

In this episode, you’ll hear why local governments are frequently targeted by cyber-criminals, how the Risk Pool can help you avoid trouble on the front end, and that we’ve got your back should you get hacked.

Provides COVID-19 statistics and the story of Roger Dean – as told by his surviving family.  Roger was  a healthy 31-year-old Seguin firefighter who passed away after a months-long battle with COVID.

Explains: (1) that you may be liable for improper employment actions; and (2) the availability to speak with one of the Pool’s attorneys prior to taking action.

Explains: (1) the legalities of purchasing and rebuilding requirements after a hurricane or other disaster; and (2) how the Pool uses Synergy to assist Member recovery.

Explains the officer safety and risk management benefits when a Member’s law enforcement agency used the Vincible Training Program.

Explains how the Pool uses the BEST Roofing Program (Scott Franklin and 4T Partnership) to assist Member recovery.

Explains: (1) the law related to a local government’s liability for raw sewage backups into customers’ homes or businesses; and (2) the Pool’s opt-out and supplemental sewage backup coverage. 

The information in this episode becomes effective on September 1, 2021. In this episode, we talk about whether local governments can prohibit — or allow — employees to actually carry a gun while at work, and how that can affect your workplace and your risk of a lawsuit.

The information in this episode becomes effective on September 1, 2021. Explains the authority of a local government to prohibit or allow employees with a license to carry a handgun at work, the potential liability for doing so, and basics of the Pool’s coverage.

Explains: (1) why the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool was started and the services it provides; and (2) the STP Series and how it can help elected officials keep their citizens, employees, volunteers, and property safe, all while saving public dollars.