SPECIAL MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
July 15, 1998
The Special Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on July 15, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman Don Foley
Comm. Wilbur Dean
Comm. Sammy Yearty
Comm. Frank Davis
Also present were:
Clerk of Court Douglas M. McKoy
Administrative Assistant William C. Cobb
The Chairman called the special meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.. The invocation was given by Comm. Foley.
INSURANCE
Mr. Trace Milam with the Gardner Group, Inc. presented the available renewal plans for health providers with
HealthPlan Southeast HMO and SunStar HMO. Mr. Milam said the two (2) plans were similar for coverage
provided and cost. Mr. Milam said one difference between the two (2) plans was the availability of treating physicians in Levy County and Alachua County. Mr. Milam said SunStar HMO has reached a contractual agreement with Beech
Street network and their physicians will be available August 1, 1998 if SunStar is selected as the health care provider. Comm. Dean said he would recommend obtaining a two (2) year contract if possible to prevent having to
change carriers in one (1) year if there are no difficulties with the health care provider. Mr. Donald Richburg, Tax Collector asked if the Department of Insurance had been contacted on the financial status of SunStar. Mr.
Milam said a recent audit by the State of Florida has authorized SunStar to offer their product in 13 more counties in the state. Mr. Milam said the SunStar HMO would allow a covered person to go direct to a specialist without
having to go through the primary care provider. Mr. Milam said Sheriff Ted Glass had committed to Sun Star HMO as the health care provider for his department. Comm. Yearty said he would be interested in the rates for a four
tiered program allowing for the rates to be adjusted on family plans for employee and spouse, employee and child, employee, spouse and children. Mr. Milam said this information could be provided but not prior to the enrollment
date. Mr. Donald Richburg, Mrs. Connie Asbell and Mr. Francis Akins, Constitutional Officers, said they wanted their departments included in the health care plan based on the information provided on the treating physicians,
acceptance of all employees and their dependents. Mr. Trace Milam said he had made arrangements to begin enrollment on Monday, July 20, 1998 if a decision was made. Comm. Dean moved to accept the quote from Sun Star HMO with
the option provided of the rate increase not to exceed 8% on the second year and the Beech Street physicians are part of the agreement for treating physicians. Comm. Davis seconded. Mr. Trace Milam responded to questions
concerning coverage dates and employees to be accepted under the plan. Mr. Milam said AvMed would provide coverage to July 31, 1998 and then SunStar would be responsible for all medical care provided effective August 1, 1998
and all employees were going to be accepted and the MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Milam said the Plus plan with SunStar allowed a substance abuse program and needed clarification on what plan was being accepted. Comm. Dean moved to accept the standard plan from SunStar HMO and to subsidize the family plan coverage with the savings from individual employee rate. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mrs. Linda Sloan with the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council said she was approaching the Board on behalf of the clam farmers with leases in Cedar Key and the losses they recently sustained to their crops of clam seeds. Mrs. Sloan said the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Program has $400,000.00 available for low interest loans sponsored by the Governor’s office. Mrs. Sloan said eligible applicants would be a governmental entity within the guideline requirements or quasi-public organizations (i.e. Development Authorities). Mrs. Sloan said the banks do not appear to be interested in making loans to the clam farmers and other avenues are being explored to provide assistance to the clam farmers to prevent a collapse of the industry in Cedar Key. Mrs. Sloan said grants will eventually be available from USDA but will not be in time for the commencing of the season in November. Mrs. Sloan said Mr. Steve Maddox has been investigating the losses and it appears that 97% of the crop has been lost from his report of findings. Mrs. Sloan said the revolving loan program if it was administered by the county or in conjunction with Dixie County would provide funds rapidly for the clam farmers to meet their planting season. Mrs. Sloan said Florida Statute, Chapter 163 for interlocal agreements would offer protection from full liability for any losses. Comm. Yearty said he wanted to know if the other agriculture industries could apply for the low interest loans. Comm. Yearty said he wanted to know if the City of Cedar Key had considered becoming the intermediary lending agency.
Ms. Mary Helen Blakeslee, the representative of the Rural Advocacy & Interagency Coordination Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development said the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Program was enacted by the legislature to provide financial assistance to promote economic viability of rural communities. Ms. Blakeslee said the money cannot be loaned to an individual directly but must be a local government or an entity sponsored by a local government. Ms. Blakeslee said the situation in Cedar Key with the loss of the clam crop is the type of project the Revolving Loan was designed for. Ms. Blakeslee said the intermediary lending agency would determine the eligibility of applicants, the terms of the loan agreements, amount of interest charged, up to 5% and the administration of the loans. Ms. Blakeslee said the money is loaned at 1 1/2% interest by the Governor’s Office to the intermediary agency. Ms. Blakeslee said the loans could be structured to be repaid by a balloon payment and be secured by the grants which may be awarded by USDA for disaster assistance and the harvest of the crop for collateral. Ms. Blakeslee said administration would be preparing and acceptance of the loan applications and then the collection of the balloon payment. Comm. Dean said he would be interested in the position of the banks in administering the loans.
Ms. Leslie Sturmer said the City of Cedar Key did not believe they had the staff to administer the loan program, however, she would contact them to ascertain their position as the intermediary agent.
Mr. Steve Maddox said the agriculture farmers could contact his office for disaster assistance for the losses from the severe flooding and the severe drought conditions which have occurred since May, 1998.
Chairman Foley said he would request Mr. Greg Beauchamp, County Attorney contact Ms. Blakeslee to discuss the Revolving Loan Program and to present the information at the next regular meeting.
INSURANCE
Mr. Trace Milam said currently the American Dental Plan is offered to employees to purchase. Mr. Milam said he recommended accepting Ameritus which provides a plan allowing a choice in selection of a dentist . Mr. Milam said Ameritus is a dental health plan and American Dental Plan is a HMO plan.
Mr. Milam said Hartford would offer a basic $10,000.00 life insurance policy and then would allow employees to purchase in increments of $10,000.00 additional coverage. Mr. Milam said the county pays for the $10,000.00 policy with the present carrier but additional amounts are not available for purchase by the employees.
Comm. Yearty moved to allow Ameritus dental coverage to be offered and the life insurance coverage through Hartford Insurance Company. Comm. Davis seconded. Mr. Billy Cobb said if the Hartford Insurance Company coverage was accepted then the present coverage would need to be rewritten for the employees. Comm. Yearty moved to amend his motion to allow the Ameritus dental coverage to be offered and not the life insurance plan with Hartford Insurance Co. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Milam said the enrollment meetings would be scheduled beginning Monday, July 20, 1998 to Wednesday, July 22, 1998 and arrange enrollment the following week for employees unable to enroll on those days.
BUDGET
Mr. Douglas McKoy said in accordance with the law he was presenting the proposed budget for the ensuing year. Mr. McKoy requested authorization to begin the meetings with department heads and commissioners for finalization of the proposed budget. Mr. McKoy said a workshop would be scheduled for discussion of the proposed budget. Comm. Yearty said he would like some of the workshops be scheduled with the complete Board.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING ADJOURNED.
Don Foley, Board Chairman
ATTEST:
Douglas M. McKoy, Clerk of Court