By Chad Engle, Loss Prevention Manager and Safety Specialist
Now that we’ve wrapped up 2025 and started our work toward a productive and safe 2026, we want to recognize the outstanding safety committees whose dedication helps make our counties and county‑related entities safer places to work. One of the ways we recognize this ongoing commitment is through NIRMA’s annual Money for Minutes program.
This program rewards safety committees that stay engaged, stay consistent, and stay focused on reducing risk across their organizations. This year, committees that met the program requirements were entered into a drawing for one of nine $500 awards—and one committee was selected to earn the coveted $2,500 Super Award for exceptional effort in safety and loss prevention.
A Record‑Setting Year for Participation
I’m especially pleased to share that 52 member safety committees submitted at least four sets of meeting minutes for 2025. That’s an impressive 28% increase over last year, and the highest level of participation since the program began. This is a tremendous indicator that safety engagement is growing across the membership, and we sincerely hope this positive trend continues in the years ahead.
NIRMA thanks each of you for your ongoing risk management efforts—they truly do not go unnoticed.
How the Program Works
To qualify, member safety committees must complete four simple but meaningful steps:
- Meet once each quarter
- Review all incidents and events from the previous quarter
- Identify practical, realistic ways to prevent similar events in the future
- Submit their meeting minutes—including recommendations—to NIRMA
These actions strengthen workplace safety cultures, improve communication, and help reduce claims across the pool.
Celebrating the 2025 Winners
We are pleased to congratulate the following $500 award recipients:
- Cedar County
- Cheyenne County
- Cuming County
- Dawes County
- Deuel County
- Dodge County Courthouse
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Sherman County Roads
Each of these committees demonstrated consistent engagement, thoughtful review of incidents, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
🎉 2025 Super Award Winner: Fillmore County
A special congratulations goes to Fillmore County, the winner of this year’s $2,500 Super Award. Their safety committee stood out for exceptional dedication to loss prevention, including strong use of NIRMA’s Best Safety Practices for Members. Their proactive approach serves as an example for all member entities.
Thank You to All Participating Committees
Whether your committee received an award this year or not, your efforts truly matter. Reviewing incidents, discussing hazards, and sharing recommendations are essential steps in loss prevention, risk management and controlling costs—both for your entity and for the NIRMA pool as a whole.
We appreciate the time, attention, and professionalism you bring to your safety responsibilities each year. Keep up the great work, and here’s to a safe and productive 2026!
