Commissioners sought a change Thursday in the county’s share of employee health insurance premium payments.

Friday, January 04, 2002

Commissioners sought a change Thursday in the county’s share of employee health insurance premium payments.

During the board’s meeting, commissioners voted to pay 75 percent of the health insurance paid out of the general fund and emergency services fund, unless percentages have been set by collective bargaining agreements. Employees effected will pay 25 percent of the insurance cost, where they had been paying 15 percent.

The move will save county funds, which have been hit hard by insurance costs that nearly doubled this year.

Commissioners approved its new health plan with Medical Mutual in November. On average, insurance costs 43.1 percent more than it did last year.

Also Thursday, commissioners:

– Received a bid from Attitude Aviation Inc., sent in by Marie Phillips of Lavallete, W.Va., to operate the Lawrence County Airport as Fixed Base Operator (FBO).

The company offers payment of operational costs, provides staffing and management of the airport; and the bid asks the county to provide a 30-year lease and to agree to compensation in case of closure.

Commissioners said they favor the bid but must seek further legal details.

– Agreed to provide annual payment to the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation, of $35,000, but to make payments quarterly instead of one lump sum.

– Approved and signed a right of way permit for Marathon Ashland Petroleum to enter the rights of way for various county roads for the purpose of crossing them with a petroleum products pipeline.

The company is still seeking final Corps of Engineers approval for the project, which will construct a pipeline from the Kenova, W.Va., to Columbus, entering Lawrence County in the South Point area.

– As its first duty of the year, approved Jason Stephens as the new commission president and Paul Herrell as vice president. The regular meeting date of each Thursday at 9 a.m. remains in effect.