~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
At their meeting on Oct. 11, the Greene County supervisors heard from county attorney Thomas Laehn about three high-profile cases that have been successfully prosecuted to the point of sentencing.
In one case, a major methamphetamine pipeline through Greene County was shut down. In another case, a person who assisted with the bank robbery in Scranton faces sentencing. The third case shut down a catalytic converter theft ring.
Laehn credited the county sheriff’s department and the Jefferson police department for thorough work.
Laehn also reported election security enhancements in the election room and work beginning Oct. 18 on the renovations in the magistrate courtroom.
The long-awaited settlement between the government and opioid pharmaceutical companies is “imminent” Laehn said.
Laehn said the use of the money is still uncertain but is to be used for abatement of the opioid epidemic.
Engineer Wade Weiss said the county suffered a “high dollar loss” when vandals cut cables on a contractor’s crusher at Clause Pit. His department is exploring ways to prevent further vandalism in that area.
Supervisor Mick Burkett reported attending an informational meeting about the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline.
Chuck Wenthold reported representing the board at a North Raccoon Watershed meeting.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph reported attending a board of health meeting.
The board, with a nay vote from Supervisor Tom Contner, approved transferring funds from the general, rural, and local option sales and services tax (LOSST) funds to secondary roads. Amounts transferred were: $55,729 (general fund), $615,806 (rural fund), and $162,500 (LOSST).
The board did not ask about Contner’s objection to the transfer. Contner did not offer any remarks about it.
Insurance representatives Ryan Berven and Katie Schmidt of Group Benefit Partners met with the board to give renewal information about the county’s health insurance. After lengthy discussion with the board, Berven recommended no change in the county’s plans but recommended increasing the employer and the employee share for premiums by 5 percent. Berven recommended leaving the deductible amount at $50,000 with Wellmark.
Berven said, “The plan is not performing as well as hoped. There have been no change in claims.”
Berven said county employees are doing well in using generic drugs when possible, but that, “There are conditions that can’t be treated with generic drugs.”
In a previous insurance review, Berven noted high dollar amounts for claims involving specialty medications. At this review, Berven said, “The county does get a rebate on specialty drugs.”
“The county receives $40,000 to $50,000 rebate on specialty drugs with the self-funding plan with Wellmark,” Berven said.
The self-funding plan in Greene County involves having a fund in reserve. The board estimated the balance at something under $1 million and said this has steadily grown over the years. The consensus seemed to be that $1 million in reserve is the county’s goal.
Chair John Muir told Bervens, “Since you’ve worked with us, we’ve moved in a good direction. We’ll take a week to think about it (Berven’s recommendations.)”
The board adjourned and a public hearing was immediately held by the temporary redistricting commission. The commission has been working on re-drawing supervisor districts.
Chris Henning noted, “The population (in Greene County) keeps dropping.”
There were no public comments and none received by the commission.
After closure of the hearing, the commission agreed to send the newly redistricted map of supervisor districts to the board of supervisors for approval.
