November 3, 2015
Kansas

County health insurance remains level

By Gloria Tucker / Dodge City Daily Globe | Posted Nov. 3, 2015 | www.dodgeglobe.com

Ford County employee life and health insurance benefits will have minimal changes for 2016.

According to Ford County Commission meeting documents, the life insurance renewal reflects a rate reduction for the dependent life premium and no increase in the Life/ADD rates. The health insurance option reflects a 1 percent increase in the cost of maximum claims and expected claims and adds a hearing aid benefit.

The Ford County Commission also approved relocation of a radio tower for $7,001 at its meeting Monday.

Since a wind turbine near Spearville interfered with the radio transition, Duke Energy will also pay $7,001 to relocate the tower, according to meeting documents.

In other business, the commission approved extended warranties for two motor graders in the Road and Bridge Department.

The two units are 2010 models with 4,345 and 4,936 hours and average 928 hours per year. Costing $13,113, the warranties provide an extension of the full coverage for two more years or 2,500 hours.

The commissioners tabled a Civil Commitment of Certain Offenders contract with the Kansas Office of Administrative Hearings.

The Sexual Violent Predators Act states that the county is obligated by law to pay the expense of administrative proceedings involving persons civilly committed as Sexual Violent Predators. These proceedings are required by law to be conducted by the Kansas OAH.

“The Office of Administrative Hearings appoints a hearing officer to hear these reviews,” County Attorney Glenn Kerbs said. “According to the agreement, they would charge the county $100 per hour for their services.

“The county where the act occurred is responsible for the expenses of the trial, and the Attorney General’s office is supposed to create a fund to reimburse the county for those expenses. I’m guessing the AG’s office hasn’t created a fund. If they don’t create a fund, the county is entitled to file a claim with Kansas. My concern with this contract is they are trying to get all the counties to agree to pay this amount and not seek any reimbursement. I don’t think that’s wise.”

In other business, the commission approved authorizing the tenant of county-owned CRP lands south of the landfill.

In the consent agenda, the Victim’s of Crime Act Grant of approximately 16,000 for Santa Fe Trail Community Corrections, a Cereal Malt Beverage License for Buehne Oil and a CMB license for Western State Bank Expo.