Insurance coverage for City of Decorah workers again sparks controversy

Last July Decorah City Council members had a heated debate over the choice of a health insurance provider for city workers.

As decorahnews.com reported at the time, "City council member Tade Kerndt said he thought the issue ought to be put to a vote of the full city council each year, rather than allowing the decision to be made administratively.  "It doesn't seem right that city employees get to decide (which plan to pick)," he told fellow council members."

But since the health insurance decision for last year had already been made when the topic came up last July, it was suggested that the health insurance coverage question ought to be taken by the city council's Personnel Committee this year.

Monday night Kerndt complained that the decision again was made this year without a vote by the city council.  "We've asked for stuff to be sent to us and nothing came," he complained.  City Administrator Chad Bird said he had sent out an e-mail with information about this year's premium quotes--and none of the city council members replied.  City council member Chuck Lore stated that he agreed with Kerndt that such a decision ought to be made by the city council.

Mayor Don Arendt ended the discussion of the issue Monday night, but said following the meeting that he would put the issue on the agenda of the next city council meeting--if he had requests from two city council members.

It would be too late again for the city council to affect this year's health insurance premium decision, but several city council members say they would like to pass a resolution calling for next year's decision to be made by the city council, instead of by city staffers.