Several city council members are unhappy about the handling of health insurance purchase

Several Decorah City Council members still aren't happy they weren't consulted on the decision about which health insurance coverage to purchase for city employees.

Following a one-hour meeting Monday night with the City of Decorah's health insurance third party administrator, city council members Tade Kerndt and Charles Lore got a chance to express their unhappiness.  Kerndt noted that the city council had no say in the decision and didn't have a role in picking which health insurance company to use.  "I felt blindsided," commented Lore.

Lore said the $780,000 price tag for health insurance should have meant the city council should have been consulted.  "When we deal with that much money, I want to see what's out there (for health insurance)," he stated.

City Administrator Chad Bird and City Clerk Wanda Hemesath noted that previous city councils had preferred to have the decision made by administrators.  Hemesath said the city has been pleased with the results of using Group Services as an administrator and Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a health insurance carrier, saying "The services that are provided to us are incredible."

But Kerndt said the process of having administrators handle the decision needs to be changed.  Lore agreed, adding, "As an elected official, we need to give a 'yes' or 'no.'"

The current health insurance policy will come up for renewal at the end of July of 2015.