Managing editor
Marion City Council and the city administrator want to be proactive with employees’ health and took the first step Monday by approving a health insurance plan that encourages wellness examinations and testing.
A 10 percent increase for employee health insurance was budgeted in 2011. With health coverage and the wellness plan, premiums will be 10 percent more at $491 per employee.
“Since there wasn’t a salary increase, I would be in favor of including a wellness package,” Mayor Mary Olson said.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas representative Tim Oglesby explained to the council the ramifications of the health care bill. Employers have to decide whether to continue to offer the same benefits and be grandfathered in or risk penalties for decreasing coverage. The council reviewed three categories of plans — two would meet the grandfathered requirements, one did not.
The council agreed to keep the same benefits with the added wellness package.
The council also will continue to provide 25 percent of health insurance premiums of employees’ spouses and families. Currently there are two employees with additional coverage for their families.
Airport board bylaws approved
Marion Municipal Airport Board President Dick McLinden asked the council to adopt airport board bylaws that the council has reviewed for several months and the council obliged by approving them.
It was determined that the board did not need a treasurer to disburse funds from the Pearl Baxter estate. The trustees of the estate would pay contractors for the new airport office.
Board members are Ty Zeiner, Jim Cloutier, Skip Sieger, Jim Davis, and McLinden. Zeiner’s term will end this year, Cloutier’s and Sieger’s in 2012, and Davis’ and McLinden’s in 2013.
The new building is near completion. Installation of carpet and of a propane tank for heat, as well as painting remain to be completed.
The council was invited to attend the next airport board meeting at 7 p.m. April 12.
Green light given to green thumbs
Flowers in the Flint Hills 2011 Garden Tour will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 25 and organizers want to expand the event to include a fresh food market in Central Park.
The council gave the thumbs-up to Jeanice Thomas and Margaret Wilson for using the park that day.
The format will be the same as last year with tickets being sold at Marion City Library for the tour of six private gardens and three public gardens in the community.
Thomas said Gallery 101 owner, Jan Davis, was planning to construct a sculpture garden near her downtown business by the time the tour takes place. Other stops will be the butterfly garden at USD 408 Performing Arts Center and Central Park with someone dressed in period costumes to tell the history of the park and springs.
City administrator Doug Kjellin will be the contact of the committee for further needs. Kjellin commented that two days after last year’s garden tour, there were two couples looking at homes to buy in Marion.
In other business
A signature card with Central National Bank was approved giving Kjellin, city clerk Angela Lange, city treasurer Rebecca Makovec, and Olson having authority to sign checks. Public works director Harvey Sanders was on the list but the council decided since he will retire in the coming months, there was no point in having him on the card.
Electrical licenses were approved for LinCo Inc., Hedlund Electric Inc., Kaye Electric, and Dalke Electric. A plumbing license was approved for Dale’s Plumbing. What Knots, Loomis Construction, and Hett Construction were approved for construction licenses. Critter Connection was approved for a kennel license.
The council, Kjellin, and police chief Josh Whitwell met for five minutes behind closed doors to discuss personnel. There was no action when the council returned to open session.
The next council meeting will be 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the city building.