The Marion County Board Tuesday night approved a new four year contract with the Laborer’s Union and agreed to absorb a 5.6-percent increase in health insurance premiums.
The new Laborer’s Contract includes a $2.50 an hour increase the first two years and a $1.25 increase the final two years of the agreement. In approving the agreement, several board members noted the employees covered by the agreement deserve to start above the minimum wage with the type of services they provide to county residents. The contract also makes the new federal Juneteenth a holiday. County Treasurer Gary Purcell and Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller thanked the board, noting the increases would make a difference.
The board learned its new partially self-funded health insurance policy has worked well during its first year and the county has $230,000 remaining in the fund to pay for the first $35,000 of each employee’s health claims. Todd Dobbs of Chaney Karch Insurance says they successfully moved five employees who were going to experience major medical expenses off the county’s plan to other insurance that paid the deductable and all expenses. He said the end result was good for the employee while protecting the county’s health insurance group.
After discussion, the board agreed to pick up the 5.6-percent increase in the policy because of the amount of money remaining to pay claims. Sheriff Andy Garden pushed the county board to make that decision.
“I really commend you guys for absorbing that and I think that benefits all people because I know from being on the union side the leader can say they absorbed that for us so next negotiation that makes it better that everyone gets along and knowing there is not any animosity.”
Garden feels the move will also encourage employees to work with Dobbs on upcoming major health needs and to bring more employees onto the plan.
Dobbs says it was much more pleasant to deliver the news on this year’s premiums after very large increases in the past few years. He was especially happy that drug costs claims were kept to just $12,264.
The county will pay a total of $520,022 for health insurance in the coming year. The Employee only cost will remain at $259 a month with family coverage at $774 a month.
The county board also approved its liability insurance policies through Dimond Brothers at a cost of $330,000.
In other action, the board approved a Class A Liquor License for Schwartz Orchard in rural Centralia. The license will allow for the sale and consumption of liquor on site, but Adam Smith said they were only looking at the sale of hard cider they would make along with locally produced wine. Smith abstained from the vote. Wes Gozia cast the only no vote.
The board voted to provide a Christmas bonus to all employees. Fulltime employees will receive a $50 gift card from Salem IGA and part-time employees $25.
