On the agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting was the first reading of an ordinance that would require members of Council who elect health insurance coverage to pay 100% of the premiums for the health insurance coverage.
President Hale called the meeting to order and excused Councilman Lovett for his absence. Mayor Gillis abstained from the vote on meeting minutes for the March 7 meeting as she was out of town.
Miami County Health Department
Chris Cook was invited to approach the dais and updated Council on the status of the Miami County Health Department. Mr. Cook serves as the Health Commissioner for Miami County. Mr. Cook explained that the Health Department is under-appreciated because the benefits county residents obtain from them are quote: “nothing”. Cook explained that the reason why you don’t get sick from eating at your favorite restaurant is because of the diligent work that he and his department performs every day.
The Health Department is again seeking an additional .04 mil property tax increase in a levy that failed in November. Cook explained that the increase is warranted due to the increase in costs that the department has, including simple things like thermometers. Cook thanked council members and Tipp City for their support of the levy in November and again on May 3rd.
Ordinance (first reading)
The first reading an ordinance that would amend §37.31 of the Tipp City Code of Ordinances to require members of Council who elect health insurance coverage to pay 100% of the premiums for said health insurance coverage. This amendment would eliminate a benefit available to members of council since 1992.
Doing “the right thing”
This ordinance was brought forth by Councilman Gibson late last week in an effort to slash more costs from the City budget. Gibson’s efforts come on the tail of the March 7th meeting where Councilman Hale proposed the same elimination of healthcare, but with a companion bill that would also increase Council compensation from $1,000/year to $5,000/year. Gibson only requires 4 votes in the affirmative for passage of the ordinance eliminating healthcare for Council members. Gibson, Black and Budding ran (and won) campaigns based on their distaste for the healthcare component of Council’s compensation package.
Gibson’s campaign to reduce expenses at the City level has received regional attention in the media as he works to “do the right thing” in light of the tax increase being put in front of voters on May 3rd. Like many local residents, the City of Tipp City has been greatly impacted by the poor economy. The City has lost $1.5 million in interest income over the past 3 years and is “looking down the barrel” of losing another $220,000 in local government funding by 2013. In February, the CIP committee provided it’s recommendation to Council and shared that Council should “do the right thing” when it comes to limiting expenses when asking those that work in Tipp City for a larger portion of their earnings.
Council Motions
A motion authorizing an annexation, an appointment to the Civil Service Commission (Ron Re), and a motion to accept the recommendation of the Tax Incentive Board (Broadway Hair Studios) were all approved unanimously.
