Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The Washakie County Commissioners met Tuesday to discuss a range of issues Tuesday at the courthouse in Worland.
After an update from Keith Bower on the state of roads and bridges, the commissioners considered the problem of several electronic locks on doors in the Washakie County Courthouse that no longer function properly. Kami Neighbors of Washakie County Homeland Security and Chris Hazen of the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office presented the commissioners with an estimate to replace these locks with an updated electronic system, which will also improve overall building security. The cost to replace four locks will be approximately $7,000.
The Commissioners then approved a motion to go forward in replacing the locks.
Following this, Neighbors and Hazen, along with Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness, discussed the County’s current situation regarding emergency electrical generators. One is needed for the county. Generators of the necessary size are pricey. The commissioners approved a motion to pursue a Department of Homeland Security grant for a new generator.
Amanda Heinemeyer then gave an update for Washakie County Public Health. This agency’s generator needs repairs. Heinemeyer had budgeted $1,000 for these repairs, but the true cost will be closer to $1,600. The commissioners approved a motion for Heinemeyer to ask the Public Health Division of the Wyoming Department of Health for funds to make up the difference. Heinemeyer also updated the commissioners on Public Health preparations in the unlikely event that the COVID-19 novel coronavirus reached Washakie County. At the moment, all is well in this regard.
Sarah Garcia and Sheri Gunderson from Washakie County Youth Alternatives arrived to give their report. This Friday night, Feb. 21, at Worland High School, will be the Washakie Prevention Coalition’s first annual Prevention Night. See related story on page A9.
County Planner David Anderson outlined some future road repair operations near Ten Sleep and Manderson that will require the roadway to be narrowed temporarily. He also discussed the need to finish Washakie Avenue’s reconnaissance report for proposed improvements. This will cost $3,000.
It is possible to use the federal Urban Systems funding for the report, but doing so would start a time horizon within which all work would need to be completed, and would come with other constraints. Anderson suggested that Washakie County and the City of Worland could each pitch in $1,500 to finish the report. The commissioners approved a motion to pursue this possibility.
The Worland City Council approved a similar motion Tuesday night
Justin Smith and Valarie Anderson of the Big Horn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) then appeared to tell the Commissioners of their organization’s existence. BBORC was formed as part of former Wyoming Governor Matt Mead’s outdoor recreation task force. They are a local collaborative formed to take on local outdoor recreation issues, and represent a broad group of stakeholders from all sectors of the community. The Commissioners were pleased to know about BBORC and saw the organization’s potential to increase tourism in Washakie County and the Big Horn Basin.
After lunch, Jon Martin, a consultant from HUB International, and Brent Schwab, a consultant from Joint Powers Trust, spoke to the commissioners about an alternative option to their current Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan. HUB International is a health insurance broker and consulting agency. Joint Powers Trust is a Billings-based non-profit employee health benefits organization for public employee groups in Montana and Wyoming.
Using Washakie County’s Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage as a benchmark, Martin and Schwab gave a comprehensive presentation in which Joint Powers Trust proposed to match those benefits at a 10% lower cost. Most of the savings would come through lower administrative costs. The commissioners asked questions for more than an hour on a wide range of related issues. Chairman Frandson asked about in-network versus out-of-network provider coverage. Washakie County employees would be able to use any health care provider who accepts Aetna health insurance. This is apparently nearly all providers. Joint Powers Trust would reach out to any providers who did not accept Aetna and would try to contract with them. With regard to wellness programs, Joint Powers Trust would create aggregate reports showing changes (ideally, improvements) in Washakie County employee health status, thus providing evidence of return on investment.
The commissioners did not recall seeing anything like this from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Health plans would be available in different tiers, so that young and healthy employees who felt they could tolerate a bit of risk could have a plan with higher deductibles, and then set aside some funds in a Health Savings Account.
The role of HUB International would be to ensure Washakie County compliance with all state and federal regulations, as well as to provide tailored, easy-to-understand information to Washakie County employees about their health benefits.
The commissioners did not make any motions on this agenda item, and will decide about this matter in the near future.