Health insurance for full-time town employees was one of the main items of discussion during the October 8 meeting of the Trezevant Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Alderman Eddie Granger advised the board that he has spoken with a health insurance provider as has been informed that providing health insurance for all four full-time town employees would cost the town $2,258.61 per month if the town pays 100 percent of their premiums.
Granger added that one of those four employees does not want employer-provided health insurance, while the other three do want it.
“They [the insurance company] said we have until December 1 to let them know because the price will go up in January,” said Granger.
Town financial officer Jeff Goad pointed out that funding for employee health insurance was not included in the 2019-20 fiscal year budget.
“We can’t do it by December 1,” said Goad. “We didn’t budget for it.”
“We either need to do it or not,” said Granger.
Alderman Tim Rogers suggested that they could amend the budget, though he expressed doubt that the town could afford to pay 100 percent for health coverage.
Rogers also said that he would like for the board to look at first quarter budget figures before making a decision on how much to pay.
“I want to do all we can for our employees,” said Rogers. “I just don’t want to do more than we can afford.”
Granger said he has talked to one employee, who said a $100 per month premium for employees would be affordable.
After more discussion, the board approved a motion from Rogers to decide how much the town would pay for employee health insurance on a first reading during the regularly scheduled November 12 meeting and to set a called meeting for November 19 to finalize it on a second reading in time for the December 1 deadline.
Other business during the meeting
•Mayor Blaylock announced that he was moving Alderman Pam Joyner’s supervisory position from the Water-Sewer Department to the Fire Department and putting Rogers over the Water-Sewer Department. Joyner will still serve as vice mayor.
•The board voted unanimously to accept an offer from Tommy McAlpine to utilize a portion of his property outside the city limits for the town to use as a site to burn brush. Town Attorney Charlie Trotter said he would look into possible legal problems with this arrangement.
•The board voted to give the owner of condemned property at 5770 East Main Street until November 12 to provide the town with documentation showing intent to auction off the property, and if that deadline is not met, the town will move forward with legal action to take possession of the property.
•The board approved a request by Goad to amend the town’s capital budget by $3,000 to account for a truck for the Police Department.
•The board agreed to hold any committee meetings at 6 p.m. before regular meetings.
•The board voted to purchase Trezevant logo T-shirts for town employees.
•The board voted to end the town’s contract with Utility Services for water tank maintenance and to restrict the $993 per month designated for that in the current budget.
