Macoupin County Board Finance Committee met Sept. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
PRESENT: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton, Duncan, Boehler, Scott, Snodgrass
ABSENT:
II. AGENDA ITEMS
1. Health and Dental Insurance Renewal
Dan Snodgrass discussed the upcoming renewal. He had received 4 bids from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Health, CIGNA, and Health Alliance. CIGNA and Health Alliance were significantly higher than the other two and weren't willing to come down. Blue Cross Shield and United Healthcare were close to one another. BCBS is at $778 a month for an employee. United Healthcare is $751 a month for an employee. Snodgrass said that United was able to come at a little lower rate to 'buy' the business for this year. Then next year increase to make up that difference. There was a question about Springfield Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield not covering the clinic while United did. Snodgrass said he had seen with other groups that United will cover Springfield Clinic, but not at the full amount. The cost for someone going to clinic would get passed on to the county in next year's renewal. There was also the discussion about the credit from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Last year, the credit was applied entirely to the county bill and then the county had to cut checks to Highway and Health departments. It had caused a major issue. This year, Blue Cross/Blue Shield said they would be able to apply the prorated credit to all three bills.
Motion by Armour, seconded by Stayton to recommend renewing with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the year.
| RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Todd Armour, Vice Chair SECONDER: Aaron Stayton, Member AYES: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton |
2. Voluntary Vision Insurance
Snodgrass said the voluntary vision insurance was ready to go. He also said that this would be a policy that an employee leaving could keep on their own and not stay on the county plan so it would not be COBRA eligible.
Motion by Stayton, seconded by Kiel to recommend offering 100 voluntary employee vision insurance.
| RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Aaron Stayton, Member SECONDER: Bernie Kiel, Member AYES: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton |
3. Presentation from Veterans Assistance Commission Regarding New Law Changes and Effects on County
Bobby Scott with the Veterans Assistance Commission introduced himself and discussed the new law changes that effect his agency and his county. The state has had a Veterans Service Officer in Carlinville who recently quit. There is currently no veterans service officer for Macoupin and due to the PACT Act offering additional benefits, there is not the manpower to handle processing those disability claims from veterans in the county. Scott said that when the veterans assistance commission was established in 2002, it might not have had all of the facts. At that time, the county had established a tax rate of .02 which gives them about $140,000 a year for all expenses. In order to meet all of the requirements in the new state and federal law, he is not sure that revenue will be enough to cover all of the new expenses, in particular hiring a full time veterans service officer. There is the possibility of raising the levy to .03 which is something he might consider requesting. At this point, both Scott and the committee felt that there was more work to do in terms of figuring hard numbers. The one action that should be taken now is they currently do not have an auditor and part of the law requires an audit. The county could reach out to Scheffel Boyle to see about adding them into the county audit.
Motion by Stayton, seconded by Armour to recommend asking Scheffel Boyle if they would be able add the commission to the county's audit.
| RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Aaron Stayton, Member SECONDER: Todd Armour, Vice Chair AYES: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton |
4. Resolution Regarding Election Judge Pay
Duncan said the state had recently passed a law increasing the reimbursement for election judge pay by $20 if the county were to increase election judge pay by $20. This resolution would do that and increase both the reimbursement projection for the general fund and election budget to account for that change. It would be budget neutral.
Motion by Stayton, seconded by Kiel to recommend the resolution.
| RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Aaron Stayton, Member SECONDER: Bernie Kiel, Member AYES: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton |
5. American Rescue Plan Requests - September 2023
Duncan said there were two change requests.
1) Highway wanted to purchase a power washer for $6,436.95.
2) Animal Control wanted to spend $6,500 for electric work as well as theinsulation, walls, drain, flooring, and ceiling in the new feral cat building.
Both requests would be moving money from other requests.
Motion by Kiel, seconded by Adden to recommend the requests.
| RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Bernie Kiel, Member SECONDER: Ross Adden, Member AYES: Payne, Armour, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton |
http://macoupincountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3860&Inline=True
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