Insurance costs down for county

With renewal of county employee health insurance at hand, Putnam County finds itself in an enviable position.

Beginning Aug. 1, the county will actually have to pay about $300,000 less for health insurance than it did during the previous year.

“We are basically in a rare situation this year where our premiums will actually go down a little,” Commissioner Rick Woodall said.

While the situation bucks the trend of skyrocketing premiums in an age of health insurance uncertainty, the county actually achieved the situation by following a trend in insurance — the move toward health savings accounts (HSAs) and away from preferred provider organizations (PPOs).

While the majority of county employees (73 of 120) still opted for the PPO during renewal last summer, it’s the presence those 47 HSA employees that has actually lowered the premiums for the county.

With an eye toward further savings, the commissioners chose on Monday to further incentivize the HSA option.

In a motion made by Woodall, the county will offer a matching funds for health savings account contributions, up to $1,000 per employee, in the coming year.

Commissioners David Berry and Don Walton both also voted affirmatively.

Even by providing this match, the county’s still going to save money,” Berry said.

There will be no change in the employee contribution to premiums for either type of plan.

In other business:

• The Putnam County Highway received bids on one bridge project and a number of paving projects.

Three contractors bid on Bridge 215 Bridge 215 on County Road 1125 South (Golf Course Road) in Cloverdale Township: Keith E. Henderson LLC of Coatesville, $259,973.24; Halverson Construction of Springfield, Ill., $434,587.10; and CLR Inc. of Vincennes, $292,995.60.

Additionally, Rieth Riley and Wabash Valley Asphalt each submitted bids for nine upcoming paving projects in the county, totaling around 15 miles.

Reith Riley’s total bid was for $1,763,282.81, while Wabash Valley bid $1,616,992.

The areas to receive work include Manhattan Road, 3.65 miles; Summerset Road, 4.8 miles; Brick Chapel, 0.96 miles; Portland Mills, 0.98 miles; Cemetery Road (Cloverdale), 1.73 miles; Proctor’s Chickenhouse Road, 1.01 miles; and Fincastle, 1.6 miles, as well as the approaches to Bridges 8, 42 and 61.

Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts will review the bridge and paving bids and give recommendations at the next commissioners meeting.

• In a bid presented at a previous meeting, CLR Inc. was awarded the $311,246.61 contract for Bridge 150 in Greencastle Township.

The bridge is located on County Road 200 South between Zinc Mill Road and 10th Street.

• Courthouse head custodian Brian Smith received approval to hire a new part-time employee to replace the retiring Ken Hutcheson.

The commissioners also granted Smith’s request that the new employee be temporarily full time, as custodian Mike Phillips will be out for an estimated six to eight weeks following surgery.

Auditor Lorie Hallett said the new hire can work full-time for a few weeks, provided that the weekly average of the position does not exceed 30 hours at year’s end.

• The Monday, July 17 commissioners meeting has been rescheduled to 6 p.m.