City commission wrangles again

The Henderson City Commission wrangled once again Monday on how much the changes in the city health plan have cost city employees.

Commissioner Robert Pruitt claimed at the last meeting that the city had shifted nearly $1 million in costs to the backs of city employees. But information provided by Human Resource Director Connie Galloway showed that instead of costing employees money, the changes actually have benefited them by as estimated $189,888 this year alone.

"That's not the numbers I need," Pruitt responded, saying what he had asked for was an estimate of the city's savings as given by a representative of the city's third-party administrator. He accused city staff of providing "elusive numbers and figures."

The dispute began when Pruitt asked whether staff had researched "how close to a million dollars that we switched for insurance." At the last meeting, he had alleged it had cost city employees close to $1 million more in premiums.

"Yes, there's a memo in your basket," City Manager Russell Sights said.

"I'm getting old, but I thought it came close to a million dollars," Pruitt said of the estimate. "She said we'd save almost a million dollars if we did those things that we did. And we did those things. Now all of a sudden we have different numbers. "

"I thought the commission agreed that's what you wanted," Sights said.

Commissioner Alan Taylor accused Pruitt of making political hay of a nonexistent issue. "The savings to the city has nothing to do with the cost to city employees," he said, castigating Pruitt's "fictitious, made-up, false number. The city employees weren't out anything, basically. And these are black-and-white numbers.

"I don't have a political speech to make like we just heard. I just wish people would pay attention to what's going on and deal with the business at hand," Taylor said.

Mayor Steve Austin got into the act by defending city staff. "I think staff did exactly what they were asked to do," he said. "They provided the information on what the additional employee costs were."

Other items on the agenda Monday included:

Building code: The commission approved first reading of an ordinance making changes to the property maintenance code that will allow the county attorney's office to bring criminal charges against violators. Criminal penalties will be a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of at least $10 and not more than $500.

HMP&L appointment: The board approved the appointment of Lin Shannon to the board of Henderson Municipal Power & Light.

Interfund loan: The commission approved taking $222,000 from the General Fund and loaning it to the Sanitation Fund for four years at no interest. The money will pay for the lease/purchase of a track loader from Whayne Supply Co. of Evansville, which was approved at the Sept. 11 meeting. The loan will allow the city to avoid paying more than $14,000 in taxes on the transaction.

Recycling agreement: The commission approved an updated version of the interlocal agreement setting up the Tri-County Recycling Alliance, which had to be revised after McLean County dropped out.


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Comments » 5

workingjoenosayso writes:

I can remember the mayor and at least three commissioners telling everyone that city employees were bankrupting the city with their health benefits and if something wasn't done and all those over paid over benefitted city workers didn't start paying the financial drain was going to passed to the tax payer. I remember Brad Schnieder standing up for the chamber stating it was about time the city workers started paying and any raises in taxes would cripple the businesses in Henderson. I remember that they started making the employees pay and they raised taxes. So if they started paying for their insurance and for those employees who live in the city and have had their taxes raised how is this not costing them a thing?

workallday writes:


treadupon writes:

I know a guy who is an employee, of course he doesn't want me to give his name for fear of retribution. He has worked for a "public safety department" for a number of years now and the city says that him risking his life to save others is worth $11.10 per hour. He is a highly trained, college educated professional but would make more per hour working for the city as a seasonal gas maintenance worker, or a part time city commissioner. Yet I digress.

He has a family and his wife works, she has to so that they can raise their children and not hover right above the poverty level. Since she works she had to take her company's insurance as mandated by the city. The cost to their family in additional insurance premium costs and deductibles is $5,000. And yes I am taking into consideration the additional $2000 the city put in his HRA.

He is one of many employees. Mr. Pruitt you can do the math. Mr. Taylor I believe you are wrong when you say "the city employees weren't out anything".

TeufelHunde writes:

At least one of them knows that anything coming from the HR Director can not be trusted. Employees learned that a long time ago.

Mr. Schnieder should sit back down. He doesn't have a dog in this hunt.

Sights is too afraid of the Commissioners to do what's right. He does whats pleasing to them.

Taylor you are mistaken.

Mr. Pruitt, sometimes your methods are not the prettiest. But your heart is right and you're the only one standing up for employees. You're the only one treating the employees with dignity and respect. Keep fighting. You're appreciated.

therealdeal writes:

Mr taylor, mike farmer,and tax break king robby mills you three guys are really sad,but to say the city didn't save anything,is a new low for yall,but the people of Henderson will have the last say come November.


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