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Insurance, budget and animal control were big topics at County Board meeting

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In hopes of making a big savings, the County Board changed health insurance providers at the regular meeting on Thursday.

After hearing from representatives of each proposal under consideration, the board decided to go with a policy offered by the Teamster&#39;s union. The contract could save the county $130,000 per year, Insurance Committee Chairman Gary Siebert said.

Joe Jackson and Danny Gibbs voted against the insurance switch.

The changeover means Williams and Associates will not be the county&#39;s health insurance agent for the first time in many years. Jim Williams recalled talking to county employees and officials about health insurance before county employees were even covered by employer-provided policies.

The Insurance Committee and Williams and Associates have tried for two years to find less expensive insurance than the group policy through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Williams said.

Williams told board members switching to the Teamsters plan could result in no savings and will cut out local representation.

There was some dispute over whether or not Blue Cross/Blue Shield provided claim information requested by the Teamsters insurance company in order to make a bid. Blue Cross sent a percentage of loss, but the Teamsters determined it was not enough information. The policy proposal mentioned $300,000 in savings over three years, but the actual policy quote was 18 months and had significantly lower savings -- about $130,000.

Williams said nothing was held back -- large claims over $25,000 and statistical information was provided, but Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act laws prohibit disclosing personal information about people insured by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Marti Craig, an employee in the supervisor of assessments office, said the employees generally like the Teamsters plan. It will provide savings to the county and better coverage for employees, she said.

Local pharmacists may lose some business due to the new plan. Linda Patton, speaking on behalf of independent pharmacists, pointed out the Teamsters plan includes a provision that maintenance prescriptions must be purchased by mail-order through CVS.

"We would like a chance to fill prescriptions of Saline County (employees)," Patton said.

Budget

Budget Committee Chairman Bruce Tolley hasn&#39;t decided to reopen the budget yet, but he is sharpening his pencil.

Tolley told board members he will see if an infusion of cash from the state comes before the end of the month, but the cash-flow trends are not good this year.

"I&#39;ve already taken a copy of the budget and started to make notes on it," Tolley said.

He laid much of the blame on the state and its tardiness paying bills. The state owes the county $410,140. No income tax payments for June and July have been received.

"They slid $70,000 this month," Tolley said.

The county will have a $112,000 negative balance in the General Fund by the end of the month, Treasurer Danny Ragan said. Ragan said state payments are ahead of expectations -- even though they are behind -- and the problem mostly lies in revenue sources not performing as expected. Office-holders are holding the line on expenses, but income is declining.

"Our revenues just aren&#39;t keeping up with expenses," Ragan said.

Coal royalty revenues are behind relative to last year. Sales tax receipts are about $193,000 below expectations. The county&#39;s fees for housing out-of-county inmates continue to lag behind -- about $168,500 lower than expected, Ragan said.

The local inmate population continues to run higher than expected as well.

Tolley said more blame can be placed on the state than Ragan suggested. The state is ahead on money owed from 2010, but that should have been paid seven months ago in the first place, Tolley said.

Animal control

Casey Fritts, representing Voice For Animals Saline County, denounced Animal Control, Dr. Cliff Morris, the veterinarian that administers the Animal Control, board members and the Daily Register/Daily Journal.

Fritts discussed a pit bull and two pups brought from Eldorado to the animal shelter. She wanted to adopt the pit bull and the two pups and find them a home, she said. The fee to adopt an animal is $170.

"As soon as Animal Control found out I was involved, the price was raised to $510," Fritts said.

The two puppies died - Animal Control took the female pit bull to a Williamson County shelter in hopes of finding a home.

Fritts said Animal Control has never charged a fee for puppies and did so just to spite her.

The state Department of Agriculture told Fritts the county is responsible for setting those charges, Fritts said. Morris and Animal Control want to make it hard for people to adopt animals, she said.

A few months ago, Fritts adopted a rat terrier from Animal Control. After she reported Animal Control to the Department of Agriculture, the shelter eventually was fined $200 for allowing a dog to be taken away without any fees paid. Animal Control Committee Chairman Carey Harbison asked Animal Control to give Fritts the dog to end a dispute.

"I was trying to defuse the situation and I fanned the flames even further," Harbison said.

Harbison apologized for putting the county in a tough spot and offered to pay the fine.

The document issued by the state regarding the fine described the dog as a "puppy." At some point, Animal Control Chairman Carey Harbison described the dog as a puppy, according to Fritts. Fritts said Harbison lied about the dog being a puppy -- it was fully grown, Fritts said.

The Daily Register/Daily Journal reported inaccurately about the dog and the fine, Fritts said.

"We the citizens of Saline County demand a change and want a change," Fritts said.

"And I hope to see you all next month."

The reason Animal Control exists is to reduce dogs running at large and to provide quarantine for animals to observation to make sure they don&#39;t have rabies, Morris said. There is no requirement that Animal Control try to find homes for animals.

"Saline County Animal Control is just that -- Animal Control -- not pet rescue, not the Humane Society," Morris said.

However, Animal Control does try to find homes for animals that can be adopted, Morris said.

The state mandates all animals that are adopted be spayed or neutered, micro chipped and have a rabies vaccination. The $170 fees include a voucher for county veterinarians and a $25 shelter fee for Animal Control to cover expenses, Morris said. There is nothing about the age of an animal that means a fee won&#39;t be collected, Morris said.

Since Animal Control has already incurred a $200 fine for letting an animal out the door without fees being paid, Morris intends not to let it happen again, he said.

Trish Stilley, operator of the disbanded Companion Pet Rescue, commended Fritts for her enthusiasm, but said Fritts needs to learn more and get a rescue license from the state.

"There is much more than saying, &#39;I want that dog,&#39; and going to get that dog," Stilley said.

Animals that find themselves at Saline County Animal Control need to be examined by a vet for medical problems and undergo disposition testing before they can be considered good candidates for rescue. Many animals there are sick or aggressive and pose health risks to other animals or county residents.

"Not every animal that goes into (Animal Control) can be re-homed," Stilley said.

Fritts said a simple $5 worm treatment would have saved the pit bull puppies she tried to adopt. Stilley said $5 worm medicine would not have saved them -- they needed better owners in the first place.

"Those puppies were doomed to die. Was that Saline County&#39;s fault? Absolutely not," Stilley said.

Stilley advised Fritts to slow down, get a pet rescue license from the state and do her homework.

"Get your license and Saline County will let you take as many dogs home as you want legally," Stilley said.

During the meeting:

-- The union contract with Courthouse employees was given an OK by the board. The three-year deal includes raises of 35 cents per hour for the first two years and 40 cents per hour for the third year, according to Siebert, the Negotiating Committee chairman.

-- The board approved first-reading of an ordinance that would raise the fees for marriage licenses and civil unions. The fee would be raised to $50. The current fee is $24. The $50 fee includes $5 for the domestic violence fund and $11 for a certified copy of the marriage license or civil union.

-- Board Chairman Jay Williams appointed Karla Carrigan to be the board representative to the Egyptian Health Department board and Bob Oglesby to the Shawnee R C&D board. Carrigan&#39;s appointment is a three-year term; Oglesby&#39;s expires in one year.

-- The meeting next month will be held in the Galatia Community Center.