Cedar Falls council to consider extending family health insurance in duty-related deaths

CEDAR FALLS — The City Council on Monday will consider an amendment to Cedar Falls’ health insurance benefits that could extend coverage for the families of some employees in the case of a duty-related death.

As currently written, the amendment would continue health coverage for the families of peace officers and firefighters for at least a month. Coverage “will end at the end of the month following the month in which the death occurred,” it reads.

The city currently has no policy covering this circumstance.

The issue was brought to the council’s attention by Carrie Sherwood, the widow of Brad Sherwood, after her family was dropped from the city’s insurance about a week after his death. Brad Sherwood died Feb. 23. He was a Cedar Falls firefighter for 27 years.

The proposed change would be retroactive to Feb. 1.

The council will also consider a proposal to build two duplexes in the 2500 block of Franklin Street, just north of the University of Northern Iowa Prairie Trail.

Jake Geisler purchased 2511 Franklin St. and the adjacent vacant lot to the south. He intends to demolish the existing house and garage. Geisler said he plans to rent the three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplexes to college students.

Early in the meeting, public hearings will be held on:

* The Katoski Drive Box Culvert Replacement Project and to authorize acquisition of private property for the project. The city plans to replace the Katoski Bridge over Branch Black Hawk Creek, located east of Cedar Heights Drive. Plans indicate property would need to be purchased from two owners for an easement.

* The South Main Street Sanitary Sewer Extension Project and to authorize the acquisition of private property for the project. The city would reconstruct the South Main sanitary sewer extension from Bergstrom Boulevard to Greenhill Road. The project is expected to need easement acquisitions from nine properties.

Council members will vote on the projects following each of the public hearings.

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