Jefferson County Council seeks benefits [Missouri Lawyers Media]

As the Jefferson County Council approves benefit packages for full-time employees, one council member is looking to secure benefits for part-time elected officials as well.

Several items were on the agenda for the regular meeting Nov. 14, including health care, dental insurance, life insurance and other expenditures. But, of the 20 items listed on the consent agenda, only five were actually voted on and approved that night, not including the possible council benefits.

Council Chair Renee Reuter said she did not have enough information to vote on the group life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance for 2012. By choosing the bid from United Healthcare Specialty Benefits in the amount of $19,000, the county would benefit from a bundled savings to reduce the employee medical costs, said contracts and grants manager Vicki Pratt.

Councilman Don Bickowski said the language in the health care bill was unclear. He had requested a clarification as to whether the policy language included elected office holders, in addition to employees. Elected officials such as the county executive and county assessor who work full time do receive benefits.

"I don't think we should be precluded," Bickowski said. "We're the same as every other officeholder."

Health care benefits for seven council members would cost more than $40,000 annually, said County Assessor Dorothy Stafford.

While attempting to pull the item from the consent agenda, Director of Administration Steve Stoll said that open enrollment was scheduled for the end of November and encouraged the council to vote on it that night.

In the end, the council approved the bid to United Healthcare for about $3.5 million.

At the budget meeting on Nov. 16, Bickowski inquired about the LAGERS program, the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System. Currently the county contributes 13.6 percent of an employee's salary for police, road and bridge employees. It contributes 12.1 percent of salaries for other employees.

Last year, the county made total contributions of $2.5 million. Bickowski questioned whether the policy included benefits to elected officials as well. Beginning next year, council members will be paid an annual salary of $11,000 each.

Charter section 3.4.2.33 only references that the council is required to establish a pension and retirement plan, including death benefits, for employees of the county, and the spouses and minor children of deceased employees.

At a special meeting held on Friday night, the council voted to approve the bid for group life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance for 2012 from United Healthcare Specialty Benefits in the amount of $19,000.

A bid for dental insurance was awarded to Delta Dental for $290,000, with a 5 percent rate cap that had been awarded in the contract with its subsidiary, Essex Dental.