County government to absorb employees’ higher health-insurance premiums
Judge Executive Dean Watts, right, discusses the county’s health insurance coverage with Magistrates Keith Metcalfe, Sam Hutchins and Bernard Ice.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, July 14, 2014, 4:30 p.m. — Though the cost of health insurance has jumped this year, county government employees will not have to pay more for their health insurance premiums.
Judge Executive Dean Watts told Fiscal Court at its meeting Tuesday morning that losses over the past year have contributed to higher health insurance premiums. Through negotiations and raising deductibles, Watts said the premium hike was reduced from 21 percent to an increase of 18 percent.
County government will cover the increased costs for this year, Watts said. The deductible for an individual policy will increase from $1,000 to $1,500; the deductible for the family plan increases from $2,000 to $3,000.
The magistrates unanimously approved the new insurance plan with Bluegrass Family Health.
4-H SHOOTING SPORTS. The magistrates had lots of questions regarding a draft agreement to lease the county-owned Old Quarry on Quarry Lane for use by 4-H Shooting Sports.
County Road Engineer Jim Lemieux makes a point during Tuesday’s meeting of Nelson Fiscal Court.
The agreement would lease the quarry for the youth’s shooting sports program for three years. The group has already provided proof it had insurance to cover the events, Watts said.
Magistrate Keith Metcalfe suggested the contract should run year-to-year rather than three years. The contract also lacked time limits for shooting sports at the quarry.
“Suppose they are out there shooting at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning,” Metcalfe said. “If I was a neighbor, I’m just thinking out loud, trying to save some phone calls.”
The draft agreement stated “small-caliber firearms” but did not specify how the term is defined, Metcalfe said. “I just don’t want AK-47s out there shooting,” he said.
Magistrate Sam Hutchins agreed with Metcalfe’s concerns and suggested the agreement include a schedule for when shooting sports would be allowed at the quarry.
“Are they going to bring groups in from outside Nelson County for tournaments?” Metcalfe asked Watts.
Watts said he understood the concerns and he would get clarifications that will address the court’s concerns.
In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:
— approved a rezoning request for 1.43 acres on Summers Lane from A-1 to R-1A.
— approved a Design Review Board recommendation for a 2,500 square-foot addition for Filcon, 915 Deatsville Road.
— heard from EMS Director Joe Prewitt that Nelson County EMS ended the year with collections over budget and expenses under budget.
— approved a recommendation from County Engineer Jim Lemieux to correct county names regarding Grigsby Lane and Crenshaw Lane in the High Grove area.
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