Board Of Supervisors Discuss Health Plan Options, Hazmat And Regional Airport Information

By Eduardo Zamarripa

File Photo

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska County Supervisors met on Monday and reviewed the health plan for the fiscal year 2013, received a hazmat status update and listened to a Leighton resident request more information regarding the regional airport, along with several other business items on the agenda.

Brad Reiman of Bearance recommended that the board renew its contract with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for the fiscal year 2013. According to Reiman, there has been no rate adjustment for life insurance (it will remain that way for another year) and the county has saved money on prescription drugs. The board unanimously approved the recommendation along with the dental plan recommendation, which Reiman also presented.

In addition to that, Reiman brought to the board’s attention four fees that could possibly affect Mahaska County due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One of the four fees discussed by Reiman is called the transitional reinsurance fee. Every covered individual in the county will have to pay a $5.25 fee that goes to the Internal Revenue Service each month starting on July 1. The annual health insurance fee, also discussed by Reiman, affects fully-insured plans, not self-insured. Individuals who have fully-insured planed will have to pay a $108 annual fee.

Mahaska County Emergency Management Coordinator Jamey Robinson gave a hazmat status update. The Mahaska County Emergency Management Commission has been working towards handling its own hazmat but has to analyze how that affects the county’s liability. Currently the county contracted with Southeast Iowa Response Group in Ottumwa for hazmat response. Robinson said the Heartland Insurance Board requested a revised 28E agreement to analyze liability changes from one service to another. Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Mike Vander Molen proposed a motion for the county attorney to draft a 28E agreement. Board of Supervisors Chair Greg Gordy disagreed and said the county attorney should not “draft” the 28E agreement but rather “review it” because Robinson already has a rough draft. Gordy and Vander Molen discussed the issue for approximately 20 minutes. Vander Molen then proposed a motion for him to revise the 28E agreement and have the county attorney look over it.

In the public comments portion of the meeting, Tim Van Mannen from Leighton asked the board to provide more information on why the regional airport proposal carried on without a public vote. He emphasized that the public perception in Leighton is that there is a lot of information being hidden from the public and that’s why people are “worked up.” Supervisor Mark Doland said the request for information is fair.

The board also approved a fiscal year 2013 budget amendment that had to do with secondary road modifications, received a case management report from Julie Bak, received a sanitarian report, designated County Auditor Sue Brown as the supervisor of open record requests and approved an emergency watershed funding application.

Three items were removed from the agenda at the start of the meeting: a conservation report, approving a fireworks display permit for the New Sharon Spring Festival and a resolution on mental health regionalization.

The board also approved minutes from April 15 and May 6. Vander Molen asked to table the approval of the April 10 minutes to make a correction.