09-15-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--September 15, 2004 2792 Veteran's Service MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mr. Wagner seconded to reduce the new employee position by $17,724, leaving $15,000 for temporary help. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Emerqency Fund MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to move one-quarter mill from the emergency fund into the general fund, since the emergency fund balance currently has $400-500,000. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Commission MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to include $1,800 for DSL or cable lines for commissioners to access agenda information from home instead of continuing to produce CD's. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Health Insurance Mr. Montplaisir provided various options in his budget handout for insurance coverage. He said premium costs will increase about 8%, or $118,000, using the same plan and the same cost share as the present budget. He said he talked to the county Blue Cross Blue Shield representative about changing to a $250 deductible plan, which would reduce the increase in county costs to about $56,000. He also supplied information on health care coverage provided to respective employees by other governmental entities in this area. He said commissioners should begin looking at health care costs from a taxpayer perspective. Mr. Vanyo said he does not think the contract should be changed this year since it is a single digit increase; however, he suggested looking at it for future years and involving some representation from county employees. Mr. Bennett agreed with taking some time and seeking involvement in future considerations on changing health care coverage for budgets beyond 2005. Mrs. Johnson said health care coverage is one of the benefits that assists the county in recruitment and retention of employees, and she noted Cass County is not the highest, and it is not the lowest, in terms of health insurance benefits among governments in the survey results provided by Mr. Montplaisir. She recommended that the commission refer the matter to the department head group, which meets monthly from September through May, and department heads could seek input from employees in the process. Mr. Montplaisir said referring this to department heads and employees will not result in suggestions for cost savings on health care. Mr. Vanyo said people need to realize the burden to employers, as well as burdening employees; and Mrs. Sorum said she would hope for some objective views when this discussion begins. Mr. Wagner said commissioners need to consider the cost of providing benefits when adding new employees.