Health insurance renewals for the city employees of the city was the only item on the new business agenda at the regular meeting of the California Board of Aldermen on Monday, Oct. 3.
Jeanie Cunningham reviewed the health care renewal costs for the city. After discussion, the council approved renewing the plan with United Health Care with an increase of 19.9 percent. In answer to questions from members of the council, she said the current amount paid is $23,032.37 per month. The new rate will be $27,622.06 per month.
Cunningham commented that obtaining a less expensive rate would have meant reducing benefits. The city picks up the costs for the employees of the city, with a $1,000 deductible. Dependent health insurance costs are paid by the employee. She spoke of the increases in health insurance costs in the area she serves. Those plans have increases ranging from 12 percent to 32 percent this year.
The 2016 sanitary sewer project and the sewer improvement planned for the northwest part of the city are both awaiting obtaining the final acquisition of right away from several property owners. It is expected that the sanitary sewer project, which involves work on sewer systems on Howard and Moniteau streets and Versailles Avenue, is expected to begin about the middle of February. Completion is expected by June 1.
The final payment of $10,000 on the "Welcome" sign was approved to Rackers Manufacturing, by a vote of four yes, one no and one abstention.
The water tower demolition work is complete. The entire water tower project of the new water tower on the west end, the renovation of the Russellville Road water tower, and demolition of the Owen Street and Cargill water towers is complete, except for a required document. The water tower projects altogether came in $63,000 less than expected.
The east shelter house is also complete, as are the first two phases of the water and sewer upgrades on the old MFA building on Smith Street. That building is now part of the Arkansas Valley Feathers operations. A third phase is expected to be done within the next year.
The next regular meeting is in the City Hall Council Chamber, Monday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.