Cook County commissioners were busy on Tuesday, September 20, and highlighting their meeting was a 4-1 vote to renew the county’s health plan with the Northeast Service Cooperative Pool, a 19.1 percent increase over last year’s plan.
It was an increase that left some commissioners shaken.
“This is 4.5 percent of our county’s levy,” said Commissioner Garry Gamble. “Some counties are levying at that.”
The $300,000 hike in insurance for the county’s 110 employees covered under the plan is about the median average for price hikes to most county health insurance plans this year, said County Administrator Jeff Cadwell.
The total cost of the plan is $1,869,276. The county has 26 single plans and 84 family plans.
Gamble asked Cadwell if he had enough time to look at other options before the commissioners set the final levy at the end of the year, but Cadwell said the insurance plan had to be submitted by October 15. He also said it would take his department months to properly research and present health plan options for the county board to examine.
Commissioner Frank Moe said he thought the increase in cost was “too dramatic” and he moved to not approve the plan. His motion died of a lack of a second.
“I understand where Commissioner Moe is coming from,” said Gamble, “But if we do nothing we are abdicating our responsibility.”
With that a motion was made, seconded and approved with a no vote from Moe to pass the 19.1 percent increase in health insurance.
The board can renegotiate with the employees’ union for health plans in 2018, and Cadwell said he would have a variety of options for the board and the union to consider before it was time to set the 2018 budget.
Half-cent transportation tax
Commissioners spent an hour talking about the proposed half-cent transportation tax with much of the discussion centering on whether or not to include facilities on a list of road and bridge projects that could be funded by the tax. Residents attending a public meeting to discuss the tax overwhelmingly supported spending the money on roads and bridges but didn’t want the tax used to pay for facilities.
Minnesota Statute 297A.993 allows the county board to enact a transportation sales tax at a rate of up to one-half of one percent on retail sales and uses, and also establish an excise tax of $20 per motor vehicle purchased or acquired from any person engaged in the business of selling motor vehicles at retail.
Collection of this tax must be dedicated exclusively to payment of the capital costs of specified projects or improvements; payment of the costs, which may include both capital and operating costs, of a specific transit project or improvement; and payment of the capital costs of a safe routes to school program.
The tax is expected to generate $750,000 per year for the county highway department.
Highway Engineer David Betts said all of the highway department buildings located in Grand Marais, Tofte and Hovland need major work or replacement, and he thought they should be on the list of priorities.
Betts also noted that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has told the county that after 2021 it would have to build its own salt/sand storage facility and Betts estimated that would cost $750,000, which is another facility that should be on the priority list, he said.
Administrator Cadwell said the state had requested a prioritized list with an end date for work to be finished, but Betts said the statute defining the tax didn’t call for that. Cadwell said he would call to confirm whether or not that was needed.
The board then voted 3-2 to keep “facilities” off a list of final projects submitted with the caveat that if one of the buildings would fall into such disrepair that it couldn’t be used, it could be added by motion to the list funded by the half-cent transportation tax.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the half-cent tax at the September 27 meeting. They will also set the county’s preliminary levy at that meeting.
Staffing additions and changes
Lisa Kerr was hired as the Parks & Trails Director in Land Services at a C42-2 Step 2 pay rate. Kerr will move from her job in the Assessor’s Office to fill this newly created position.
Moe, who was on the team who interviewed her said he was impressed with Kerr’s knowledge and her grasp of issues concerning parks and trails. “She will be able to hit the ground running,” he said.
Tanner Hoskins was hired to be the new YMCA custodian position at A11-2 Step 1, pay rate. He will start work on September 26.
Commissioner Gamble asked if Hoskins would be paid from the money the county now gives yearly ($100,000) to the Y, and he asked if Hoskins would work under county maintenance department supervision. County administer Cadwell answered yes to both questions.
Unexpected performance issues with the Tofte waste management site attendant have resulted in a vacancy that will now be advertised to be filled.
Administrator Cadwell brought forth a request to establish a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would establish the position of a lead dispatch/public safety systems specialist as a new position within the bargaining unit at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center.
“This isn’t a new hire,” said Cadwell. “This MOU serves as an amendment to the current contract indicating agreement of both parties on the creation of this position.” Commissioners unanimously approved his request.
In other business
. With mail-in ballots needing to be sent in a few short weeks, Auditor Braidy Powers asked and received county board approval to lease a new postage machine from Pitney Bowes for $265.02 per month because the current machine “has failed several times in the last few months and the reliability is questionable.”
. Sheriff Pat Eliasen requested authorization to purchase 10 new in-squad cameras and viewing software because, he said, “Our current squad cameras and viewing software has become obsolete. If we experience malfunctions with the cameras we can’t purchase the replacement parts and the entire unit will need to be decommissioned.”
IT Director Rena Rogers noted, “This new system will allow them [deputies] to upload wirelessly. It is the most current technology available.” Eliasen said funds to pay the $61,900 replacement costs were in his budget and commissioners voted unanimously to support his request.
. Also approved was an agreement for the Minnesota Counties Information Systems (MCIS) to host Cook County’s financial system and some systems for the highway department for a period of four years. IT Director Rena Rogers said the county would receive the highest level of maintenance, service, and security. Eight other counties are also expected to sign up for this service, said Rogers.
. The board approved a cooperative grant agreement with the Office of Justice Programs in the Minnesota Department of Safety for $48,000. This money helps fund crime victim services provided by County Attorney Molly Hicken’s office and also includes funds to pay a 25-hour per week paralegal/victim witness coordinator.
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