Commissioners face employee health insurance time crunch

McCOOK, Neb. -- Commissioners met with representatives of three insurance companies, one in executive session, to discuss the options as time grows short to select a health insurance plan for Red Willow County Employees.

At a regular meeting Monday, they heard from Curtis Smith of Partners Health Alliance, Dennis Maggart of McInnes Group Inc., representing the state employee pool NACO, and, in executive session, with Mitch Lyster and Brad Swiggert of Northwestern Mutual.

Commissioners have only one more regular meeting, May 18, and a special meeting May 22 to pay health insurance bills to RCI, the current third-party administrator, before the current health insurance contract expires June 1.

The board also heard from Joyce Deaver of Tri Valley Public Transportation, which requested a $1,050 contribution for the next two years for public transportation services.

She said the service has been in business 10 years, has two full-time and two part-time employees, made 708 trips last year totaling 62,000 miles.

The fact some 14% of the people served were Red Willow County residents served as justification for the request.

The issue was tabled and will be revisited closer to budget time.

Andy Long delivered a quarterly report on McCook Economic Development Corp. activities, saying LB840 funds used for the purchase of two liquor stores and a daycare center were major recent actions. He also updated the board on federal paycheck protection program and Small Business Administration activities in the area. The MEDC is also exploring ways to bring more remote workers to the area, and updated the board on activities at the Keystone Business Center.

A quarterly jail “inspection” was conducted remotely through a visit by the county jail administrator, who reported occupancy is about 10 prisoners a day, about half the typical number.

Other issues included the need for replacement of cameras.

The consent agenda included declaring computers and other equipment as surplus property, a road occupancy agreement with Black Hills Energy, and a 10 a.m. June 22 date for opening gravel bids.

Tuckpointing work that should be underway by now has been delayed by cold weather, but officials hope it can be accomplished this budget cycle.