Monday October 24th Mitchell County Commisioners meeting

Mitchell County Commissioners

Monday, October 24, 2016

By Terry Bailey

The Mitchell County Commissioners conducted their regular weekly meeting at the Courthouse on Monday, October 24. All Commissioners were present. Assistant County Clerk Kathy File sat in for County Clerk Chris Treaster.

Insurance was the main topic of discussion for the meeting. The big ticket item was Blue Cross health insurance coverage for County employees. Kelly Leister from the Hays Blue Cross office was on hand to make a presentation to the Commissioners regarding the rates for the 2017 health insurance coverage. The County pays 100% of the premiums for employees whether it is individual or family coverage.

Mitchell County currently has 94 people covered by their group health insurance plan. Current rates paid by the County for health insurance coverage is $532.14 for individual coverage and $1,724 for full family coverage. Leister said the plan for 2017 would see a raise of 10.8%. This would set the 2017 rates at $589.49 for an individual plan and $1,901.54 for a full family plan.

Tom Claussen noted that the County has budgeted for a 10% increase in health insurance premiums so the 10.8% increase would be within the expected increase. The Commissioners also agreed that the County employees are happy with Blue Cross and would like to see it continued. They voted unanimously to accept the proposed Blue Cross insurance plan for 2017.

Joel Fouts representing Fouts Insurance appeared before the Commissioners to discuss a possible bid on the County’s liability and property insurance. Currently the County’s insurance for this coverage is taken care of by K-CAMP and K-WORK. Fouts Insurance Agency a local agency feels they have programs tailored to the counties needs and just wanted a chance to bid on the liability and property insurance.

The Commissioners told Fouts that it was their duty to look at all bids for whatever they buy to find the best bargain for the taxpayers of Mitchell County. Generally speaking, the Commissioners were satisfied with the current coverage. Tom Claussen commented, “We will consider everything we can to benefit the taxpayers and citizens of Mitchell County.” They encouraged him to submit the most competitive bid possible and they would evaluate it along with other bids submitted.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to sign a letter of support for the Solomon Valley Transportation program.

Larry Emerson, Public Works Superintendent, said his crews had finished all the road striping for the season and that all the asphalt work planned for the summer had been completed.

Emerson told the Commissioners that a small wooden bridge on the blacktop right north of Jed Black’s residence needed replaced. He believes it would hold up through the milo harvest. It will be replaced with a 20 foot span. The Road and Bridge crews will get to work on it as soon as the milo harvest has been completed.

He said the Victor road which carries a lot of traffic is currently being bladed. Emerson also reported that the gravel road approaches to the Hunter blacktop are being worked on.

Emerson requested a 20 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. No actions were taken as a result of that closed session.

Two Neighborhood Revitalization Grants were considered and approved. The first was one submitted by Doug and Valeri Strathem. It is for a $250,000 – $300,000 ranch style home to be built in the Zimmer Addition.

The second application was for a $500,000 home to be constructed in the Silver Fox addition by Mike and Tammy Cooper. This application passed 2-0 with Commissioner Mike Cooper abstaining from the vote.

Economic Development Specialist Heather Hartman announced the month of November is “Match Month.” Funds have been made available to the Solomon Valley Community Foundation so that each dollar donated to the foundation will be matched by four dollars. If a $20 donation is made to the Solomon Valley Community Foundation it will be matched by $80. The matching funds are made available by the Dane Hansen Foundation and other charitable organizations.

Having addressed all the items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA