Pinckneyville renews health insurance
The Pinckneyville City Council approved a three-year contract with Mutual Medical Insurance which increased the aggregate specific from $15,000 to $30,000, but does not increase costs. The stop loss premium will remain at $35,000 per person.
The council also approved the 2013-2014 budget. The budget projects a deficit of $282,895 in the city's operating budget and a surplus of $1,141,230 in the enterprise fund (water, sewer, gas and swimming pool).
In other business, the council:
• agreed to sign a three-month contract with Select Energy Partners to include 13 accounts that were not part of the original contract the city had. The short-term contract will expire at the same time as the remaining municipal electricity accounts. The council also agreed to renew all municipal accounts for 24 months at a cost of $.04308 for 24 months. The contract is expected to save the city $7,000.
• opted to take a soft approach in making the City Park smoke free. Signs designed by children will be placed near the playgrounds, pavilions and dugouts. There will be no city ordinance prohibiting smoking and no enforcement by police. The signs will be chosen from entries in a design contest sponsored by the 'We Choose Health' grant. Nicole Marlow, Health Educator at Perry County Health Department, and Amber Maslovsky of SIH asked the council to make the park smoke free. Other area communities have taken advantage of the 'We Choose Health' grant to make their parks and playgrounds smoke-free.
• approved a three-year contract with PDC Labs for testing the city's water system. Total cost is $12,741.
• placed on file for public inspection a contract with Bob Schneider to manage Bender Municipal Pool from May 25 to Aug. 31 for $6,790.
• approved the purchase of a new telephone system for City Hall at a cost of $14,500 and $165 per month in customer support. The cost includes the hardware, installation, programming and training. The current system was installed in 1991. Parts to repair it are no longer available. CTS Technology of Sparta will install the new system.
• placed on file for public inspection a two-year contract with the Perry County Sheriff's Department for telecommunications. The current contract costs $21,960 per year. Commissioner Kevin Hicks will negotiate with Sheriff Keith Kellerman for the new contract. He expects a modest increase in cost.
• passed a resolution appropriating $172,000 from motor fuel tax for the 2013 maintenance program.
• granted a request from the Perry County Ag Society to collect funds around the square and the four-way stop on June 8 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The funds will be used for the fireworks show at the fair this year.
• discussed the need to move forward on a zoning ordinance for the city.
Commissioner Leonard Heisner and Mayor Augie Kellerman will look for additional committee members before the next regular meeting in three weeks.