Milford Council Hears Employee Health Plan Options
November 13, 2018 at 5:49 p.m.
Milford Council Hears Employee Health Plan Options
By Mark [email protected]
Council members heard about two plans from its carrier at Monday night’s monthly meeting.
Lisa Manning, of Frazetta Financial in Warsaw, presented the council with a simple renewal of the current plan, which comes at a cost increase to the town of 3.99 percent, and an alternative that includes $1,000 in prescription co-pays to reach deductibles, but will be an increase of just 1.38 percent.
Town employees pay a nickel a month toward their health care premiums. The reason for the nickel is a provision in the Affordable Care Act that requires employers charge employees something for health insurance. Otherwise, the employee must take the plan, regardless of how much or little coverage it provides.
But because the alternative plan wasn’t made known to anyone with the town, and would result in at least some increase in out-of-pocket expenses for the employees, the council postponed a decision until the December meeting to allow discussion and input.
In other matters, in his report to the council, town marshal Travis Marsh said reserve officer training is going well, with one officer going through a thorough training process and another doing ride-alongs until the first reservist training is complete.
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Marsh said several candidates for paid police positions tested over the weekend, and he plans to interview three people before Thanksgiving. The marshal wants to be down to two finalists before the Dec. 10 council meeting.
The marshal said his force remains busy, with nine felony investigations ongoing.
Other police items presented to the council were:
• Body camera testing continues, but Marsh remains concerned about the cost of implementing a program.
• Milford School resource officer Derek Kreider has been recertified for his position.
• The department is expecting funds from Kosciusko County to buy two portable breathalyzer machines.
• The council approved $4,399 to purchase six radios for the department. Marsh had the money in this year’s budget for the purchase. He also said a new radio tower to be built in Nappanee will greatly improve radio service in Milford. He hopes to have Milford School and Chore-Time Brock install radio booster stations, at their expense, to ensure police radios work inside those facilities.
Streets and Utilities Supervisor Steve Marquart told the council a dump truck repair was scheduled after a chain-reaction collision in a Warsaw home improvement store parking lot.
Marquart presented four quotes for a new lawn mower, and the council approved a bid from Gardners Outdoor Power Equipment in Goshen for $8,800.
Marquart asked citizens of Milford to be patient with leaf pickup, and continue to rake leaves to the edge of, but not onto, the street. He said the machine that picks up the leaves is old and isn’t working efficiently. He hopes to replace the machine in 2019.
Other items presented by Marquart were:
• An inspection of electrical systems in the community building by Tom Bulger cost $280, and Marquart said he added some items for improvements before asking for bids for the work.
• Bids for a dozen tires for town vehicles were presented, and the council approved a bid from Price Auto Repair for $1,944.78 for the tires.
• The supervisor anticipated getting a $117,643.05 Community Crossing grant from the state for road repairs. The funds are several thousand dollars less than hoped for, so repairs won’t be as extensive and will need to be prioritized.
• Marquart asked the council to approve $625 for sidewalk leveling in front of the community building and town hall. He said improper backfill has caused the sidewalk to become uneven, and several people had trouble with the walkway on Halloween night.
• Brackets for the town’s new Christmas decorations have been installed, and the decorations will be hung as soon as possible after Thanksgiving, weather permitting.
• With funds left over in the park department budget, the council approved Marquart’s request to buy another picnic table and brackets to prevent it from being moved. The cost of the table and brackets is $836.16.
• Marquart and the police department are looking for an individual that towed a boat lift to the town’s launch in Waubee Lake. Photos will be posted on social media to find how to whom the lift belongs.
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Council members heard about two plans from its carrier at Monday night’s monthly meeting.
Lisa Manning, of Frazetta Financial in Warsaw, presented the council with a simple renewal of the current plan, which comes at a cost increase to the town of 3.99 percent, and an alternative that includes $1,000 in prescription co-pays to reach deductibles, but will be an increase of just 1.38 percent.
Town employees pay a nickel a month toward their health care premiums. The reason for the nickel is a provision in the Affordable Care Act that requires employers charge employees something for health insurance. Otherwise, the employee must take the plan, regardless of how much or little coverage it provides.
But because the alternative plan wasn’t made known to anyone with the town, and would result in at least some increase in out-of-pocket expenses for the employees, the council postponed a decision until the December meeting to allow discussion and input.
In other matters, in his report to the council, town marshal Travis Marsh said reserve officer training is going well, with one officer going through a thorough training process and another doing ride-alongs until the first reservist training is complete.
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Marsh said several candidates for paid police positions tested over the weekend, and he plans to interview three people before Thanksgiving. The marshal wants to be down to two finalists before the Dec. 10 council meeting.
The marshal said his force remains busy, with nine felony investigations ongoing.
Other police items presented to the council were:
• Body camera testing continues, but Marsh remains concerned about the cost of implementing a program.
• Milford School resource officer Derek Kreider has been recertified for his position.
• The department is expecting funds from Kosciusko County to buy two portable breathalyzer machines.
• The council approved $4,399 to purchase six radios for the department. Marsh had the money in this year’s budget for the purchase. He also said a new radio tower to be built in Nappanee will greatly improve radio service in Milford. He hopes to have Milford School and Chore-Time Brock install radio booster stations, at their expense, to ensure police radios work inside those facilities.
Streets and Utilities Supervisor Steve Marquart told the council a dump truck repair was scheduled after a chain-reaction collision in a Warsaw home improvement store parking lot.
Marquart presented four quotes for a new lawn mower, and the council approved a bid from Gardners Outdoor Power Equipment in Goshen for $8,800.
Marquart asked citizens of Milford to be patient with leaf pickup, and continue to rake leaves to the edge of, but not onto, the street. He said the machine that picks up the leaves is old and isn’t working efficiently. He hopes to replace the machine in 2019.
Other items presented by Marquart were:
• An inspection of electrical systems in the community building by Tom Bulger cost $280, and Marquart said he added some items for improvements before asking for bids for the work.
• Bids for a dozen tires for town vehicles were presented, and the council approved a bid from Price Auto Repair for $1,944.78 for the tires.
• The supervisor anticipated getting a $117,643.05 Community Crossing grant from the state for road repairs. The funds are several thousand dollars less than hoped for, so repairs won’t be as extensive and will need to be prioritized.
• Marquart asked the council to approve $625 for sidewalk leveling in front of the community building and town hall. He said improper backfill has caused the sidewalk to become uneven, and several people had trouble with the walkway on Halloween night.
• Brackets for the town’s new Christmas decorations have been installed, and the decorations will be hung as soon as possible after Thanksgiving, weather permitting.
• With funds left over in the park department budget, the council approved Marquart’s request to buy another picnic table and brackets to prevent it from being moved. The cost of the table and brackets is $836.16.
• Marquart and the police department are looking for an individual that towed a boat lift to the town’s launch in Waubee Lake. Photos will be posted on social media to find how to whom the lift belongs.
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