County Changes Retiree Insurance
At a special meeting Oct. 30 (Commissioner Marck Schafer absent), Glasscock County commissioners voted to make a change in county retiree supplemental insurance. The county will now use the Texas Association of Counties’ Silver Choice plan, which is administered by Aetna. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the change would save the county $280 per month, lowering the county’s total cost to $1420 per month. The county currently provides Medicare supplemental insurance for eight retirees. Under the new plan, Dierschke said a retiree could have up to $2,500 out-of-pocket expenses.
Dierschke also briefed commissioners on the county’s retirement figures. Currently, the employee contributes seven percent of his salary, and when he retires, the county matches 125 percent of the money in his fund. If an employee dies, his beneficiary gets a payment equal to one year’s salary. If a retiree dies, his beneficiary gets a payment of $5,000.
Commissioners also changed the policy for renting space in the community center. In the future, any applicable security deposit will be payable at the time of booking space. Security deposits are required if alcohol is to be available at the event.
County Declines Fence-building
The county took no action on a second request from John Mills regarding one mile of County Road 220 in Section 20, Block 33, T-4-S, T&P Survey. A letter from Mills dated Oct. 10 states that no right-of-way or damages have been paid on the road. He requests that he trade right-of-way and damages for a fence on the east side of the county road from the north cattle guard (at State Highway 158) to the cattle guard one mile south, or that the county close this section of the road. He noted that CR 220 is paved from this south cattle guard to the Big Lake highway and that closing the unpaved section would save the county maintenance.
Dodie Mills and Ronnie Hirt, appearing on John Mills’ behalf, mentioned problems with teenagers partying along the road, and Hirt said there is little county traffic on it. Mills said they would be willing to meet the county halfway, suggesting the Mills provide materials, and the county build the fence. She said the family wants to put cattle on the property.
Commissioners Michael Hoch and Mark Halfmann said the county has cleared the right-of-way, but would set a poor precedent by building fence. They said if the county accommodates one landowner in this way, it would have to be willing to do it for any other who asked. [The court stated this same opinion in the matter at a meeting Sept.11.] Commissioners also said they do not want the road closed, citing school bus routes and resident traffic.