MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission signed off on an expenditure of $394,500 on Wednesday aimed at maintaining insurance premiums at current rates for county employees.
Commissioner Sean Sikora said initial negotiations with carrier Highmark West Virginia indicated premiums were projected to jump more than 15 percent starting Aug. 1.
That estimate was based on the ratio of premiums paid in compared to the amount of money paid out under the current premium rates.
After some negotiation, the county and insurance provider agreed on a 9.91 percent increase in premiums, with the commission voting to cover the cost of that increase for county employees.
“The commission will pick up the extra costs so the employees will not see an increase in their premiums for the next fiscal year,” Sikora said.
In other county news, the commission announced the winners of its annual County Government Month Essay Contest for 2019.
In no particular order, the winners are: Adeline Dering (South Middle), Marisa Fijewski (St. Francis) and Gabby Garrisson (Mountaineer Middle).
The winners will present their essays at the May 15 commission meeting, during which the commission will announce which essay received the top spot. Additionally, the writers will join the commissioners at the dais for the meeting.
Along with the three winners, the essay written by Clay-Battelle’s Isabel LaPoe was selected as an honorable mention.
Lastly, the commission voted to continue receiving general liability insurance through the West Virginia Counties Risk Pool for the coming fiscal year at a cost of $537,555.
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