Returning to health insurance

Lincoln County commissioners Monday will decide whether to accept a committee's suggestions for changing the county's health insurance options.

The weekly meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' room in the North Platte courthouse, 301 N. Jeffers St., and will be livestreamed on the county's YouTube channel.

For online access to the meeting, visit youtube.com/channel/UCHdGjLPMx3O-wSu3T3aMWlg.

The county's Employee Benefit Committee presented two options May 6 for altering the health insurance package as it copes with a possible 8.7% premium increase.

One option would raise the county's basic annual deductible from $1,600 to $2,600 and also require copayments for some services. The other would offer employees a $6,100 high-deductible plan tied to a health savings account.

A continued "buydown" of the current plan's deductible to $500 a year, a higher "cash-in a-lieu" payment to some employees and the return of a wellness program also were recommended.

In other business, commissioners will:

•„ Consider a final contract with Western Engineering Co. to repave streets in the Indian Hills and Hillcrest subdivisions outside North Platte.Commissioners awarded an $864,520 bid to Western April 15.

•„ Decide whether to reset the date for taking bids for a new food service provider at the county jail. The County Board had voted April 29 to set bid openings for 10 a.m. May 20.

„• Hear an update from Nebraska Association of County Officials legal counsel Beth Ferrell on events and legislation affecting counties.