Cabool City Council approved a rate increase for employee health insurance at its meeting Monday evening.
The aldermen heard from Scott Rice, with BPJ Insurance, who recommended the city keep its current plan and pay a 13.9 percent increase in premiums.
Rice explained the city’s current plan through Anthem was grandfathered in when the Affordable Care Act passed in 2014 and no longer exists to other customers. The plan has seen mostly single-digit increases since 2015 and also receives an annual rebate to help offset costs.
Rice described to the aldermen some alternate plans that would be less costly to the city, but ultimately more expensive for employees. Currently, employees pay no deductible and have a $500 maximum out-of-pocket expense for the year. Other options available would have been 20 percent less for the city’s cost for the year, but employees would’ve faced a $1,000 annual deductible and a $2,500 maximum out-of-pocket expense.
“I like the stability and rich benefits of this plan,” he said, adding his recommendation to keep it if the amount could be budgeted.
Aldermen approved the increase unanimously.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The board also approved prepayment by Dec. 1 to Premier Pyrotechnics for fireworks for the annual Independence Day celebration. The city had received notice that the company would be increasing rates by 10 percent, citing tariffs and pricing uncertainty.
Early prepayment gave the city an increase of 15 percent in the amount of fireworks received, essentially receiving the same amount of fireworks for close to the same price.
OTHER BUSINESS
- Council approved a resolution to apply for a $168,000 federal Recreational Trails Program grant to resurface the parking lot and trails at Roberts Park. The grant cycle opens in December to be awarded after the beginning of the year.
- Ron Scheets, administrator, announced that after last month’s approval by the board of aldermen, the city is no longer adding fluoride to its drinking water. He said employees are working to remove equipment used in the process and a letter was received by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, stating the city had met its requirements for ceasing fluoridation.
- Aldermen approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale of kratom products to individuals under the age of 21 and another ordinance to set filing dates for the April 7, 2026, municipal election. Filing will open at 8 a.m. Dec. 9 and will run through 5 p.m. Dec. 30. The mayor and an alderman from each ward will be up for election, with all serving two-year terms.
- The city administrator also noted the Cabool Community Foundation and the Cabool Development Corporation are sponsoring a Christmas decorating contest. Prizes will be awarded in business and residential categories, with $250 – first place, $150 – second place and $100 – third place for businesses, and $150 – first place, $100 – second place and $50 – third place for residential. To enter, businesses and individuals must have decorations in place by Dec. 5 and must fill out the online form available at caboolmo.gov.
- Christmas on Main will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6, including vendors and food trucks. The annual Christmas parade will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 13, with lineup at the Cabool High School parking lot.
