Council approves insurance plan

DUNKIRK — City employees will be seeing some changes to their health insurance policies.

They will also have a choice to make of their own.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved a health insurance package from Barnum and Brown Insurance that includes a reduction in premiums but an increase in deductibles.

Aaron Walter of Barnum and Brown, Dunkirk, explained that the city’s current $1,500 deductible plan, which is run through the Affordable Care Act, is no longer available. The options, he said, were a $500 deductible with a significantly higher premium or a $2,500 deductible with a 2% reduction in the premium. He recommended the latter of those options.

“It’s just darned expensive, any way you look at it,” Walter said.

Walter also said one of the complaints customers sometimes have is the requirement for a referral in order to see a specialist. He suggested offering employees the option of a plan that would not require a referral. (That option could result in higher out-of-pocket expenses.)

Council members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Kevin Hamilton and Christy Curts, absent Tom Johnson, backed both recommendations, choosing the $2,500 deductible plan with the 2% reduction in premiums while also giving employees the option to select a plan that eliminates the need for referrals.

Walter said he would work with clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott to send a letter to employees explaining the changes and the choice they have regarding referrals.

The city’s life, dental, vision and short-term disability policies are unchanged.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins also reported that earlier in the day Jay County Commissioners approved using $85,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for a new liner, lifeguard stands and a grill for Dunkirk City Pool. The funding is subject to Jay County Council approval.

In other business, council:

•Heard Hamilton express his condolences to the family of Mike Kreps, the former superintendent of the city’s street department. Kreps, who had also been a volunteer firefighter and was a retired Dunkirk police officer, died Oct. 16 at the age of 54.

•Was reminded the city will host a trunk-or-treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Dunkirk City Park. (Residential trick-or-treat hours will be at the same time.) A fall festival is also scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the park.

•Revised its plan for $2 raises for city police from funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Since the budget and salary ordinance have already been passed for 2022, the raises will be given in the form of a bonus, to be paid in July and December.

•Heard the following from Mayor Jack Robbins:

—Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation held and auction and was able to sell nine of the 13 lots that had blighted structures removed.

—The city will hang its Christmas lights during the week of Nov. 15.

—City crews will be picking up leaves this year, though dates have not yet been set.

During the Dunkirk Board of Works meeting that preceded the council meeting, board of works members Dan Watson, Bivens and Robbins:

•Approved the purchase of four air bottles at a cost of $2,953.20 for Dunkirk Fire Department. Also OK’d expenditures to repair trim and seals on overhead doors at the fire department. (The county will pay half of the cost of the door repairs, as the facility doubles as a base for Jay Emergency Medical Service.)

•Learned from Robbins that the city’s police officer who is currently at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy is expected to complete training and be available for duty in December.

•Heard from wastewater department superintendent Larry Wright that he still has concerns about storm water infiltrating the sewer system in the Skeens Addition. He plans to continue monitoring the issue.

•OK’d payment of invoices of $4,557.31 to E Solutions for replacement of a sensor at the sewage treatment plant and $963.22 to Utility Supply for water department supplies.