Redkey changes insurance providers

REDKEY — Insurance was the focus of Thursday’s Redkey Town Council meeting as it decided to change health insurance companies and got a report about the town’s property and casualty insurance.
Members also heard an update about the sewer separation project and agreed to have a new roof put on Redkey Fire Station. Also a newly elected member of the council spoke about what he hopes to accomplish during his term.
The city’s health insurance agent, Aaron Walter of Barnum and Brown Insurance Agency, Dunkirk, said rates for Anthem, Redkey’s current provider, have increased by 27 percent. He spoke about the benefits of United Healthcare, another company he represents, which include all co-pays going toward out of pocket costs and the same benefits being paid to in and out of network doctors. The cost will be $3,392 per month compared to $3,836 for Anthem.
Council president Kyle Champ and members David Dudelston, Ted Friddle and Greg Curme decided to make the change to United. Jon Davis was absent.
Andy Thompson, a representative from The Thompson Group in Parker City, gave a review on the town’s property and casualty insurance. He said there will be an increase of 3 to 4 percent and coverage of $4.9 million is sufficient at this time. Council members will make a decision next month whether to stay with the The Thompson Group or switch to a different provider.
Randy Kriscunis of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, Inc., said an asbestos survey needs to be done in the lab building at the Redkey Wastewater Treatment Plant. He had a quote from Patriot Engineering and Environmental, Inc., and council members asked him to get another quote for the project to present at the next meeting.
After council members learned the town didn’t get a grant for repairs to the Redkey Fire Station, they agreed to use $11,196 from the infrastructure fund from Jay County Commissioners to pay for the project. Clerk-treasurer Debbie James will write a letter requesting the money to replace the leaky roof.
Mike Wright, an independent candidate who was elected to the council Nov. 4 and will begin his term in January, visited the board and discussed plans for his term.
“I’d like to thank those that supported and voted for me,” Wright said.
“I look forward to serving and working with everyone on the board, trying to improve the town of Redkey for everyone.”
He added that he hopes to work to clean up properties and asked Redkey town attorney Wes Schemenaur about getting inmates to help. Schemenaur suggested talking to Jay County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Rob Bicknell and said liability and manpower may be a concern.
In other business, council members:
•Approved having police chief Tracy Layman purchase two body cameras from WolfCom at a cost of $200 each.
•Heard from fire chief Randy Young that Christmas lights are up and will be lit at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 when Santa Claus visits the gazebo in town.
•Heard Dudelston say one stove is installed at the Redkey Park Cabin and the other is on back order.
•Approved purchasing LED lights from SpeedTech Lights for two dump trucks for the street department at a cost of $278.98 for each truck.
•Agreed to have James advertise for two weeks for bids for an asphalt roller and old dump truck owned by the town. James said she will bring sealed bids to the next meeting.
•Approved the purchase of 70 hydrant markers from USA Blue Book at a cost of $1,877.35 and 25 meter bit insulators, not to exceed $350.
•Approved paying $733.85 to Maximum Overdrive Transmission in Redkey to install a dual battery tray on the town’s big dump truck.
•Heard the next meeting in the effort to try to get the 1-mile buffer around the town for confined feeding operations is 9 a.m. Monday in the commissioners room at Jay County Courthouse.
•Voted to reappoint town representative Doug Stanley to the East Central Indiana Regional Planning District.
•Heard from James that Redkey Town Hall will be closed Nov. 27 and 28.
•Approved water bill adjustments of $59.01 and $27.74.
•Agreed to pay claims of $125,966.97