Rate study discussion on Council agenda

Council to discuss workers’ insurance costs, deductibles

By Scott Levine
Herald Associate Editor
CLINTON — The entire Clinton City Council will have the opportunity this week to review proposed changes to health insurance for some city employees.
      The Committee of the Whole on Tuesday will discuss the plan first brought up last week for committee review that would increase deductibles and force non-bargaining employees to contribute to Health Savings Accounts.
      A crowd of approximately 50 people congregated at City Hall last Tuesday to hear the city’s plan that would increase deductibles from the current $250 for single and $500 for family, to $2,000 for single and $4,000 for family.
      A percentage still has not been determined for how much would be required to fund a Health Savings Account.
      By using the high deductible and HSA accounts, the city would save more than $50,000, if the system includes the estimated 70 employees. The proposed changes for non-bargaining employees would be initiated Jan. 1, 2013.
      Also, the City Council will review an actuary opinion regarding health care reserve funding that states the city has met the proper funding levels.
      Numerous meetings will be held between Tuesday’s meeting and the next City Council meeting on Oct. 9, for non-bargaining employees.
      COW members also will hear a report from Clinton Public Library Director Amy Birtell. She will present a plan to the Council that may include information on possible renovation projects to the library.

Discussion

September 24, 2012

Rate study discussion on Council agenda

Council also will discuss sewer cash flow model

By Scott Levine Associate Editor The Clinton Herald Mon Sep 24, 2012, 10:30 AM CDT

CLINTON — The Clinton City Council will look to move forward with a rate study for its solid waste service.

The study is in response to a system implemented in August 2011 that featured new trucks and trash bins distributed to households in Clinton. The previous system, utilizing stickers as a means for collecting funds, was proposed again by City Administrator Jeff Horne at a recent committee meeting.

However, committee members shot down that proposal and only forwarded the rate study for the solid waste services to the full Council. A split vote by the Committee of the Whole moved the rate study forward to the City Council meeting.

The study will determine if charges for solid waste, recycling, waste and large item pickup are appropriate.

When the study is completed, city officials will compare the results against the cost of utilizing a private contractor for the service.

Also on Tuesday, the Committee of the Whole will conduct a work session regarding a sewer cash flow model. Delinquent bills have been a problem for the city recently regarding sewer collections, and the session will include a presentation and report from PFM, Inc.

Included in the report is a proposed rate increase of 25 percent to sewer bills to be effective for cash collections as of January 2013, and an additional 15 percent rate increase to be effective in July 2013.

The City Council approved a sewer rate increase in June that raised the rate from $6.79 per 100 cubic feet to $8.18 per 100 cubic feet.

The rate of $6.79 was the second highest rate of 35 Iowa cities that have populations greater than 10,000, according to a study conducted by the city of Ames.

The City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, while the work session is at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.