LMR April 2021

was also employed by the LMA, and resulted in overall
successful mitigation of the viral threat within RMI.
General Manager Patrick Cronin reflected on the past year
with Jerry, who affirmed that LaMATS was incredibly helpful
by providing the supplies needed to implement these
safeguards, and that the cooperative spirit of RMI employees
allowed the organization to turn on a dime as needed to
adapt to a new circumstance. Patrick appreciates that
technology has provided solutions to minimize litigation
delays and provide continuity of operations, so he is grateful
that the systems are now in place in the event of other crises.
Walking the Path Together (While Making It Safer)
While the individual efforts of both subsidiaries are
exemplary, a recent partnership between LaMATS and RMI
perfectly illustrates how collaboration gives rise to innovation.
According to the National Safety Council, an older adult dies
from a trip and fall every 20 minutes. A portion of those
falls will inevitably occur on concrete city sidewalks, which
can buckle and break in just a few years, regardless how
well made. For Louisianans, who seek more time outdoors
as spring arrives and COVID risk slowly retreats, this can
only mean increased use of public rights of way and greater
responsibility for municipalities to keep them safe.
LaMATS Purchasing
Services (LPS)
contracts with top
statewide vendor
of sidewalk repair
services, Precision
Concrete Cutting of Louisiana and Mississippi (PCC), which
offers professional damage assessments for City Council
reviews and ADA-compliant repair of buckled and broken
concrete walks, using an efficient, proprietary process and
technology.
LaMATS Executive Director, Cliff Palmer, noted the service’s
three decades of demonstrated success in reducing trip
hazards and the importance of making Louisianans safer in
their home cities. “Mitigating the risks of degraded sidewalks
is not just the right thing to do, it’s federally mandated and
involves considerable civil liability besides,” cautioned Palmer.
“The average lawsuit stemming from a sidewalk fall is settled
between $25,000 and $40,000 and can exceed a quartermillion
in damages owed by local government.”
Risk Management Inc. (RMI) Executive Director, Patrick Cronin,
agrees: “Most of the hundreds of Louisiana local governments
simply can’t afford to take that risk.” Cronin, who has
witnessed the PCC process in action, was impressed by the
technology and the final repairs. “Precision Concrete Cutting
does an outstanding job,” he said. “We’re delighted, as Risk
Management specialists, to join LaMATS in our support of this
fine company’s work and mission.”
RMI, the wholly owned LMA subsidiary, provides selffunded
indemnity and benefit programs used by
Louisiana municipalities (e.g., General Liability, Workman’s
Compensation, and staff Health and Wellness programs),
and assists in the development of new programs to meet
the needs of municipal
government.
In the coming year,
RMI will join LaMATS in
joint promotions and
demonstrations of the PCC
process and help to make this
effective and affordable service
available to all Louisiana local
governments. To schedule a
demo or on-site assessment
of city properties, contact Cliff
Palmer at (225) 344-3057.
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LMR | APRIL 2021