Everly council approves employee insurance package

The Everly City Council's third meeting about an employee health benefit package yielded a final decision on Monday.

The council unanimously approved a plan that would have the city covering 70 percent of family health insurance premiums while full-time employees would be required to cover the remaining 30 percent. As approved last month, the city will also cover 100 percent of individual health insurance packages for full-time employees.

"Today in order to be competitive in the job market, I think we have to pay some sort of health insurance," said Mayor Ron Thompson.

Council members went back and forth on how much the city should contribute to the family plan. Percentages ranged from as low as 50-60 percent to as high as 100 percent.

"It's not in the city's interest to do 100 percent," said Council Member Denise Cook, who noted that she's rarely seen employers completely cover family plan premiums. "Insurance is a sticky thing, but everybody's gotta have it."

Council Member Jeff Weimann didn't think the city would be able to attract and retain good employees if it didn't increase the amount it covered on the family plan.

"They'd see 60 percent on the job benefits description and they wouldn't even apply," he said. "Sixty is a little short."

Ultimately, the council agreed to cover 70 percent of the family plan's premiums.

"It's a starting point," said Thompson.

Discussion about insurance was sparked in March after former street superintendent Nate Fitzgerald submitted his resignation, citing rising health care costs for his family as the primary reason. Currently, the city offers a $625 stipend for full-time employees to use on health insurance. It also offers an individual health care plan for them to use the stipend on.

According to previous discussion, only one full-time employee is signed up for the city's plan. Others have used the stipend as income or to pay for their own insurance plan.

The city will quit offering the stipend on Dec. 31 and instead only offer its new health care plan. City Clerk Kristi Fliss previously said she uses the city-offered plan and only has to pay 17 cents more per month than the $625 stipend.

Overall, the city-offered package will cost $18,360 more than the current stipend setup. Fliss explained the package will be paid for by monies pulled from multiple funds, which is how the city pays for the monthly stipends now.

• Kahl offered street super job

The council voted in favor of offering Brian Kahl the vacant street superintendent position, which has been open since Fitzgerald left last month. If Kahl accepts the position, he will start at $23 an hour.

The decision was based off a recommendation from the personnel committee, which interviewed three people for the position.

The council unanimously voted to offer the job to Kahl, who currently works at Tecton Industries in Spencer and also serves as chief of Everly Fire & Rescue.

Council Member Shaun Iske expressed concerns about the offer. He noted the starting wage for the street superintendent has jumped $6 since it was last open four years ago.

"It's just a lot," Iske said. "I struggle with it."

Council Member Tara Patrick noted starting wages in every sector have increased in recent years due to a competitive job market.

"I see everywhere they're going up," she said.

• City inching towards lot sale

Council members once again discussed the sale of city-owned property near the maintenance sheds north of the railroad tracks. Consensus was to see if the property could be split into three lots, with a portion of one remaining in city possession for a driveway.

The city hopes to sell the lots once they're split. Thompson broached the idea this winter to get the property off the city's books while hopefully generating tax revenue with future development.

The council will either sell the lots via sealed bid or auction. Discussion favored the auction method if it can mirror a silent auction process. Interested buyers would be able to monitor bids at city hall over a period of time, which could potentially drive up the sale price.

City Attorney Dennis Cmelik will be asked to clarify whether the city can conduct an auction in that fashion, with a decision tabled until a later date.

"I like that way better so the [information] is out there," said Thompson. "We just want to make it as open as possible."