Commissioners discuss wellness program

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May 27, 2009

By Patrcia Morrison, News Editor The Washington Times-Herald Wed May 27, 2009, 08:21 PM EDT

Daviess County Commissioners heard an insurance presentation aimed at beginning a wellness program for county employees.

Jim Franklin from Vincennes Insurance Inc. has for several years served as an advisor to the commissioners on which insurance company and policy best serves the county. This time Franklin was breaking with tradition and recommending his own company. Commissioner President Tony Wichman said that Franklin is currently not under contract with the county so this was not a breach of that contract.

Franklin told commissioners his company was only interested in health benefits for county employees and have used the wellness program with great success in other government and non profit entities to reduce claims.

“For what you’re spending there is more available,” Franklin said. “We understand how your dollars are coming in. We understand audits. You’re biggest problem is claims. They keep going up. We would pick the top two or three (health) conditions and attack them.”

The wellness program would provide a nurse coach to come in and meet with office holders and employees. Two popular programs are weight loss and smoking cessation. Following the meetings everything would go online on a Web site where employees would be able to see their benefits. The program would pay for the nurses and coordinators at the same cost the county is paying now.

Franklin said the only additional cost to the county would be an incentive program that is suggested to motivate employees toward better health. The incentive program would be up to the commissioners to approve and fund.

“Knox County and the city of Vincennes are fully incorporated in the program,” Franklin said. “Employees need more than health insurance. They need to feel better about themselves.”

Wichman said the county currently has insurance with the Stafford Williams Agency, which is now owned by German American Bank. Inc. Since the buyout, agent Paul Williams has established his own agency and Wichman said the county doesn’t know who its agent is.

Franklin said he understands that the commissioners would want to talk to other companies, but he would like to get this program off the ground this summer, should they choice his company.

Washington Mayor Larry Haag said the city has this program and it has been very successful. He offered to help the county in any way he could.

Commissioners said they would take up the issue at the June 8 meeting, giving other agents an opportunity to address the commissioners.

In other business

Annexation

Attorney Rita Baldwin, representing the city of Odon, asked the commissioners to approve the annexation of Parkview Village to the city. The Odon Town Board approved an ordinance on the annexation Dec. 10, 2007, but Baldwin was advised the commissioners also need to approve the move. The annexation was approved 3-0.

Buggy licenses

Auditor Gail Doades asked the commissioners to stop allowing Raber’s Buggy Shop to sell buggy license plates.

“Their accounting practices leave something to be desired,” Doades said. “There’s nothing wrong, there’s no money missing. They’re just very relaxed and there might be an issue if the state Board of Accounts wanted to inspect their books.”

Peoples Bank, which has a branch on CR 900E, used to sell the plates but Wichman said when German American Bank purchased Peoples they would not let them sell the plates. Doades was asked to contact 1st National Bank of Odon and see if they would sell the plates. That would put points of sale in the north part of the county, while the Amish can also buy the plates at the county highway office outside of Montgomery and at the auditor’s office in the courthouse.

Commissioners agreed to thank Raber’s for selling the plates, but will now be selling them elsewhere.

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