Ken Francis, Staff Writer 

 

Sherburne County will be paying more for employee health insurance next year.

Tuesday, the board approved a switch of health insurance firms from LOGIS to Medica. 

Human Resources Director Tammy Bigelow said the department went out for bids after learning of a large increase from LOGIS, which is a group where public entities pool together for insurance purposes. Benefits of pooling together include larger group size and competitive rates.

Bigelow said four firms submitted proposals. The steering committee chose Medica, which offered two plans. The first is a flat rate increase of 9.5% for 2019 and a rate cap of 13.5% for 2020. 

The second option would realign the rates, which could result in a variable rate change from

-2% to 16% and have a larger impact on employee plans.

In 2012, the county saw a 24% reduction in rates. Administrator Steve Taylor said these new increases are an indication the market is making a correction on the county’s rates.

“At some point we had to pay the piper,” he said.

The board approved the flat rate option.

Broadband

The county is making a deal that will expand Broadband into portions of the western part of the county.

Tuesday, the county board approved entering into an agreement for the lease of conduit and vault system along Co. Rd. 58 and Co. Rds. 6, 8, 11, and 19 with Arvig Enterprises, Inc. 

Over the past few construction seasons, public works has been installing conduit along several county road projects as part of an initiative to help facilitate the expansion of broadband fiber. 

This year, the county issued a request for proposal (RFP) asking providers for a lease rate for use of the conduit or offer a number of fiber strands to the county in return for use of the conduit. 

Arvig was the only provider to respond. The 30-­year lease agreement allows Arvig to install fiber infrastructure utilizing the conduit along the specified routes at no cost. 

In return, the county will have rights to access 24 strands of fiber installed in the conduit. In addition, Arvig will provide at no charge, a minimum of 100 Mbps broadband service to the Becker Public Works facility and the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Substation located at Palmer Twp. Hall.

Election Equipment

The board approved a payment of $128,020 to Know Ink for electronic poll pads for the election. The county received grants in the amount of $55,740.42 to cover a portion of the cost. Each of the precincts in the county will receive at least two poll pads for the 2018 election.

Other Business

In other action the board:

* Approved liquor license applications for Finish Line Cafe, Fairway Shores, Hideout Bar & Grille, Briggs Lake Liquor, Sand Dunes Spirits, Bailey Ray’s, Kinitski’s, KJ’s Refuge Bar & Grill and Ridgewood Bay Resort;

* Approved a temporary liquor license to be used at the Big Lake Fire Dept. dance on Aug. 18;

* Approved a bond interest payment of $611,843.76 for the Government Center expansion project.