County employees health insurance costs to increase by 8.45 percent

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette/ WBRT Radio

Thursday, July 6, 2017 — Nelson Fiscal Court employees will see their health insurance premiums increase by 8.45 percent for the next year.

The premium increase is based on the previous year’s claims, Judge Executive Dean Watts explained.

The overall premium increase for the county’s health insurance was 28.45 percent, Watts explained. The county budgeted for a 20 percent premium increase, and will pay 20 percent of the increase, he said. There was no premium increase the prior year.

NEW HIRE. After discussion, the court authorized Watts to negotiate salary and to hire a new mechanic for the Nelson County Landfill.

The existing pay was about $2 below market, and Watts requested and was granted authorization to go up to $25 per hour in salary negotiations.

Due to the workload, Watts said the county needs to have two mechanics at the landfill rather than a mechanic and a mechanic’s helper.

In other business, the court:

— discussed the advantages and disadvantages of buying a newer used compactor for use at the county’s landfill. Solid Waste Coordinator John Greenwell said he is waiting for a dealer in Canada to come up with a price on a used piece of equipment. The compactor will replace one that was damaged by a fire that happened after a hydraulic hose burst.

— approved a bid of $30,685 each from Conway Heaton for a 2017 F150 4×4 two-door extended cab pickup truck. The county will purchase two of the trucks for the county’s code enforcement office.

— approved the use of Flex Funds — road repair money provided by the state but administered by county government — for paving projects on Holt Ridge Road, King Road, Pottershop Road and Newton Valley Road.

— approved the use of a $40,000 grant from the Trigg family for tuckpointing work at the Wickland mansion.

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