New city committee will help pick health insurance

McCOOK, Neb. — By a unanimous vote, the McCook City Council Monday night approved the creation of a committee to help choose a health insurance provider for the city.

Mayor Mike Gonzales said two council members will be appointed to the health insurance brokerage consultant committee at the next council meeting.

According to the city manager’s report, city staff has sent a Request for Qualifications to potentially interested providers. Staff recommended a committee be formed to review responses to the RFQ and to assist in the selection of the best candidate, which will be forwarded to the City Council for approval. A similar process was used to select the city’s property and casualty insurance brokerage consultant.

Sean Wolfe, CFO at Community Hospital and a board member of the McCook Economic Development Corp., has agreed to be on the committee. An additional person has been contacted and city staff is waiting for a decision from that individual. City staff also requested that city employees Nate Schneider, city manager, Lea Ann Doak, city clerk and Lilia Dimas, human resource officer, be appointed to the committee.

Also Monday night at the regular meeting, the council approved on third and final reading a revised ordinance that updates building and zoning permit fees.

The city’s current fee structure has not been updated for 10 years and City of McCook Building Inspector, Barry Mooney, recommended the changes.

The biggest change in the ordinance has new construction fees based on construction costs rather than square footage.