Health insurance rates to increase 4 percent
Communications foreman will be hired
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission heard some good news Monday from the Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative regarding rates for 2004.
Tim Oglesby, the county's representative from the insurance carrier, presented a rate schedule for May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005. The rate reflects an increase of 4 percent, which is considerably less than anticipated.
The current insurance rate, including dental and prescription coverage, paid by the county per employee is $329. The new rate would be $365 per employee.
Employees with family health insurance are currently paying $463 per month. The new rate will cost the employee $511 for the family policy, an increase of $48.
The coverage will be the same, said Oglesby.
"The county has had a good year," said Oglesby. "There weren't any claims over $25,000."
The commission had asked for a rate schedule to determine the need for bidding the insurance coverage. With the news of the small increase, the commission will continue the coverage with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for another year.
Oglesby presented an optional worker's compensation program for employees. The employee will be the only contributor to the program which is similar to other accidental injury insurance programs.
"KPERS kicks in at six months (after an injury and the employee is unable to work)," said Oglesby. "This will fill the gap."
This particular insurance would begin paying 70 percent of the injured employee's salary on the 15th day following the accident.
For example, if 70 percent of an employee's weekly salary is $300, and the employee is between the ages of 40 and 44, he/she would pay $14.10 a month. If injury occurs, the employee would receive $300 a week for 26 weeks, when the KPERS disability insurance becomes effective.
Commissioners authorized Oglesby to make a presentation to employees regarding the program.
In other business:
— Following a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel, Michele Abbott-Becker, communications and emergency management director, was authorized to hire a communications foreman.
Abbott-Becker requested and received permission to establish a 28-day pay period for the departments she directs. County employees, except for the sheriff's department, follow a pay period beginning on the 21st of each month and ending on the 20th of the following month. The 28-day pay period would begin on the 22nd of the month and run for 28 days.
A program for disaster planning will be implemented by Abbott-Becker. Participation between the county and the cities will be required for the plan. Each city will receive a plan specifically for its city. Abbott-Becker said the plan is needed to receive grant funds for disasters.
The server that was purchased is not compatible with the older computers, Abbott-Becker reported. Lloyd Davies of Great Plains Computer Services will be reviewing the county's options. Labor has increased due to the changeover problems.
— Carol Maggard, county clerk, reported that the Marion County Health Department has had five incidents where a non-employee or family member received a free flu shot. The health department was requesting direction whether to bill the individuals.
County policy allows free flu shots to employees and immediate family members.
Commission discussed and decided not to bill the individuals but to set up a clear policy for next year.
— The first meeting of the task force to write a county economic development job description will be at 1 p.m. today.
Bob Hein, commissioner, said Mike Kleiber was unable to serve on the task force due to personal reasons. Hein appointed Darrell Driggers, a Hillsboro businessman, to replace Kleiber.
— An audit of the Marion County Microloan program will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the commission room. Maggard said that the Kansas Department of Commerce will conduct the routine audit. Christie Henry, grant administrator with SCKEDD (South Central Kansas Economic Development District), will be present.
The commerce department has requested the county's code of conduct and procurement policies. Maggard said there is no code of conduct policy in place. She will have a sample for the commission to review Friday, the next meeting.
— Maggard presented an election form from KWORK, the county's worker's compensation insurance carrier.
The form would restrict the amount volunteer workers can claim if an injury occurs and would not allow the filing of a civil suit.
— Road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey and road foreman Jim Herzet presented one bid for transport fuel.
The bid was from Cardie Oil Company for $10,063 and was approved by the commission.
Kelsey also presented two bids for materials for cold mix blade patching. The bids were from Koss Construction and Brown and Brown Construction. Koss Construction had the low bid of $78,000. Brown and Brown Construction bid was $80,580. Commission approved the low bid from Koss Construction.
A road crossing permit was approved by the commission from Spring United.
It was determined that county-owned lots used by the county are not for sale. There had been an inquiry in two county-owned lots. Kelsey said the county needed to maintain the lots for storage of county fuel tanks, equipment, and materials.
— Commission approved an annual payment of $2,000 to Kansas Legal Services.
— A letter of appointment was approved by the commission regarding Carolyn Koehn, city clerk of Burns, being appointed to the SCKEDD executive board.
Commission also approved the appointment of Megan Kilgore, director of Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and management board, to serve as the contact person for the Marion County Microloan program. Susan Cooper, former city of Marion economic development director, previously held those positions.
— David Brazil, planning and zoning administrator, sanitarian, and transfer station director, presented various year-end reports to the commission.
Planning and zoning department ended the year with expenses totaling 83 percent of the budget.
Sanitation department ended the year with expenses totaling 97 percent of the budget.
Transfer station had an income of $12,927 from non-professional haulers.
Monthly tonnage for 2003 ranged from 425 tons in February to 700 tons in April. Construction and demolition waste ranged from an average of 10 tons per month, peaking at 80 tons in July.
There were a total of 86 sanitation applications in 2003, 50 of them being for wastewater systems.
— Dianna Carter, county appraiser, requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel issues. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Commission adopted a resolution to set aside $15,000 from the noxious weed fund to provide for the control and eradication of noxious weeds on privately owned lands.
Bill Smithhart, noxious weed and household hazardous waste director, requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss identifiable personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Friday at the courthouse.
