Supervisors give approval to County paying for portion of rate increase for employee health insurance

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Tuesday, February 18 the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who summarized the Insurance Committee's recommendation regarding health insurance benefits for County employees. Ridenour said that after reviewing price quotes obtained from Gundersen Health Care, Coventry Health Care and United Health Care, the Committee unanimously voted to recommend Gundersen Health Care as the County's health insurance carrier and Arne Beneke as the broker and flex plan administrator.
Additionally, the Committee recommended an increase in the County's contribution from $576 per employee per month to $596 to offset a portion of the increase in premiums by approximately ten percent. Chairmain Larry Schellhammer said that the Committee had presented "reasonable options" and Supervisor Dennis Koenig said that the committee did "a great job." The Board then voted unanimously to follow the Committee's recommendations.
In other business, County Attorney Jill Kistler suggested that the Board consider adjusting the County's paid holidays to coincide with those of the State of Iowa. She said that some confusion is created particularly by the discrepancy with Presidents' Day, which the County recognizes as a paid holiday while the State does not, and Martin Luther King Day, which the State recognizes as a paid holiday while the County does not. She said that the result of the discrepancy is that the offices of the District Court are open while all other offices in the courthouse are closed and vice versa. The Board agreed to consider the matter when it sets paid holidays for next year.