March 19, 2024

County employees, officials insurance rates set for 2015

Supervisors invited to work with Central Iowa Workforce Board

Last year, Jasper County saw its employee and elected officials insurance rates jump from $153,348 per month to $171,058.69 per month, an 11.48 percent jump.

However, things don’t look as drastic for the county going into 2015. Tuesday, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a new plan that will only see its rates increase by 2.37 percent.

The approved plan will cover medical, dental and vision insurance for 163 county employees and officials. It will cost $175,104.83 a month for the county — which amounts to the county paying 92 percent of cost for employees — features an expanded dental plan and an optional life insurance policy that would be of no cost to the county.

“Obviously I like the renewal rates. I am very, very pleased with that,” said Dennis Stevenson, board vice-chairman.

Bob Meller, of the Meller Insurance & Consulting, said the county had a favorable claims year, which is why it only had a slight increase in rates as compared to last year.

“Hats off to the county and supporting a good wellness program. Wellness definitely has a positive effect on utilization. People are becoming more health conscious. We’ll have years where we will have bad years on this program in place, but just all the cards fell right (this year),” Meller said.

Another item of business for the board was a proposal by Angie Arthur, executive director of the Central Iowa Workforce Development Board. She clarified to the board, that although she was listed on the agenda as speaking on behalf of Skilled Iowa, she was there for another purpose.

Arthur asked the board to consider appointing an elected official to the Region 11 Workforce Board, which features eight counties including Jasper County. Other members include Dallas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story and Warren counties. The purpose of the board is to provide oversight of the workforce system, and be responsible for programs for unemployed adults and youth, Arthur said.

In order to have a representative on the board, the county would have to approve a 28E agreement. Brock and Stevenson seemed receptive to the matter, and asked for a copy of the agreement so Mike Jacobsen, county attorney, could review it.

In other business:

• Robert Andrew Jr. was hired for a part-time position with the county with a hire-in rate of $12.64 per hour.

• An agreement was reached with Polk County for construction on a culvert near the Beaver Township in Polk County and the Washington Township in Jasper County. Terms of the contract indicate the cost won’t exceed $43,690.80, and the cost would be split between the counties.

• The county’s Secondary Roads Department received approval to continue snow removal operations at Rock Creek State Park on behalf of the state. The contract will run from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

• Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty received approval for his office to have an equitable sharing agreement with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury. If the sheriff’s officer were to work a case with the federal government, it would be entitled to a share of any seized property or money, according to Halferty.

• Approval was granted for the Young Professionals of Jasper County annual chili cook off on the courthouse lawn. The date for the event is Nov. 28 but a firm time has not been set.

• The Jasper County Recorder’s Office collected $16,454.81 in September, and the board approved the report verifying that figure.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6532 or trushing@newtondailynews.com