[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6517250,"mediaKeyId","5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055","parentId",5419330,"title","Meeker County selects Hartford for life insurance and MetLife for paid family leave and short‑term disability administration","audioSeconds",985,"startMs",4714000,"endMs",5699000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055&start=4714&end=5699","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055/thumbnail_4714000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6517250/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-selects-Hartford-for-life-insurance-and-MetLife-for-paid-family-leave-and-shortterm-disability-administration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517250-12e6ad8789f7e1fad83e40e7a3a8ceaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911965&Signature=I8XoIRC2mZ8igsVRKv05j7~64D-buepa7Tb6seWvJRrxFmkTEZQigoi1NVFTJAxYoCPswvVXZ8hni69wcmTe4MpEoisrWfpclTndwUiprU19kh4OdwQUmJ-X-ZmB9jKwuJwjdq5zMRPb-WilmrR2O35PhA6Y1uPDjjQPJbOxvvTTqo90jnasX6kgqFm-3x87dZoaNkdyt5p0Af1O3fU9~EzT7oodhwND83TbC3WudYIU3MhKeO23J8tIjfJ9REMS-sOFj~C~6xrF3Ix~nIfjnVaJLyfomSwdPsB1TYEtMO7SiYUxyH7VAWBCB~gJNhz6xECeYIA0MU0qHoDz7y36KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Meeker County","date","2025-07-17T14:54:26.867Z","article","The Meeker County Board of Commissioners on July 15 approved three human resources recommendations from the county’s insurance committee: switching the county’s basic life‑insurance carrier to The Hartford for 2026–2028, selecting MetLife to administer paid family and medical leave starting Jan. 1, 2026, and choosing MetLife as the county’s short‑term disability carrier for 2026–2028.

Human Resources Director Michael Johnson told the board the county’s basic employer‑paid life coverage is $20,000 for employees who work 30 hours or more; that portion is county‑paid. The insurance committee solicited proposals and recommended The Hartford because it would allow eligible employees to enroll in additional coverage without completing a health questionnaire, increase the child life benefit from $2,500 to $10,000 under the voluntary buy‑up product, and reduce the county’s premium for the employer‑paid $20,000 basic life plan by approximately $3,780 compared with the current carrier.

On paid family and medical leave, Johnson said the county could use the State of Minnesota’s administration or contract with a private vendor; MetLife proposed a 0.79% payroll rate with a two‑year guarantee, below the state’s 0.88% payroll tax rate that the state has announced. MetLife already administers family‑leave programs in other states, Johnson said, and the committee favored MetLife for expected faster claim turnaround and an established administration platform. The county must still negotiate the employer/employee split of the payroll rate with unions and employer groups; Johnson also said there is a one‑time $500 fee to register with the state if the county later chose to move to the state program.

For short‑term disability, vendors submitted bids and the committee again recommended MetLife. Johnson said MetLife proposed a lower premium, a two‑year rate guarantee, increasing benefit coverage from 60% to 70% of salary and reducing the waiting period for benefits after illness or injury from 15 days to seven — changes intended to align short‑term disability with the paid‑leave program and to simplify claims administration by having one vendor manage both programs.

Motions and votes: The board voted to adopt the committee’s recommendations. The Hartford was approved as the county’s life insurance carrier for 2026–2028; MetLife was approved as the county’s paid family and medical leave claims administrator for the initial implementation period and as the short‑term disability carrier for 2026–2028.

Johnson said employers and employees will receive implementation details and that human resources staff will meet with union representatives to agree the premium split and other bargaining items. Commissioners asked about portability and COBRA continuation options; staff said continuation and conversion options will apply and that employees would be responsible for payments if they continue coverage after separation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 15, 2025, Meeker County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved three separate HR vendor decisions: Hartford for county-provided basic life insurance (2026–2028), MetLife as the paid family and medical leave claims administrator (2026–2027) and MetLife for short‑term disability (2026–2028); staff said the changes save the county money and expand employee options.","taxTitle","Meeker County, Minnesota","taxId",73314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6517255,"Meeker County approves reclassification for ditch inspector; public works outlines backlog, equipment and funding",747,1053000,1800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055&start=1053&end=1800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055/thumbnail_1053000.jpg","/articles/6517255/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-approves-reclassification-for-ditch-inspector-public-works-outlines-backlog-equipment-and-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517255-e3ab2618f8d54d5b5cb914fbfbd2f139/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911965&Signature=VdevjVcT05ixgJ9qBelgxqQimwY66PGmhpXeLppK2fLvYLkxO9Y6RK~TRdscdKg13ooY3UDTm2zwlCoa88LJHkOR0Vpm3r6~nSVP~pXRVsYZMHowJBomp-x3OSodMLbCzK2m48qgpWAV1z5WRq0Z986mwYUeUnCCmI10KRVnOJkrb5yCvhWuw39~XWRHTEhJcYI~wBhZz-uHiCuvfeldBGRrOn2As-HgIfWvT~f2A~FhUVlP89vUGU3URa3Upl3caxm1WSEBBKNZKU0~A8L1pbvOm~7UradU8R21Rymn2sG-~RB9e7VEWvvi6Mq5MfXzo0bpvA0JHv1~offtCQYLRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Meeker County commissioners voted July 15 to reclassify the vacant ditch inspector position from its previous classification to an HC 41 grade, a change the county says is funded by benefiting properties on ditch systems rather than by the general levy.

Public Works Director Phil Smalls told the board the comp-and-class committee approved the reclassification on June 10. He said the county needs either a staff inspector or contracted inspector to meet a statutory inspection cycle for county ditches that requires inspections every five years and to reduce the department’s backlog of maintenance and permitting work.

Smalls said the ditch inspector job description emphasizes an understanding of drainage and environmental resources; the county prefers candidates with a two‑year certificate in environmental resources or relevant experience. He said the position is vacant now and that the higher classification aims to improve recruitment. The county previously had limited applicant interest and has explored contracting with neighboring counties and private contractors.

During the presentation Smalls reviewed the county’s highway and ditch operations: state‑aid roads (identified as the county’s highest-maintenance class after trunk highways), 775 miles of township roads (of which Meeker County maintains about 680 under maintenance agreements), and a county ditch system of roughly 170 miles of open ditches and about 55 miles of tile. He described core maintenance tasks — snow and ice control, gravel blading, pavement maintenance, ditch mowing and construction — and summarized significant 2024 projects paid largely with state aid and township bridge funds, including micro‑milling and several reconstruction and bridge projects.

Board action: A commissioner moved to approve reclassification of the ditch inspector position to HC 41; a second was made and the motion carried.

Smalls told the board that ditch redetermination of benefits (a formal process to reallocate who pays for ditch repairs) can be costly: he recalled a recent medium system redetermination costing about $50,000. He said the county sometimes solicits contractor quotes for clean‑out work, typically soliciting multiple contractors for competitive quotes unless a job is small and requires a direct select.

Smalls also described equipment and staffing: the department operates a fleet including plow trucks, motor graders and nine tractor mowers, and maintains nine shops around the county. He said the department uses GPS/AVL tracking on plow trucks to verify coverage and reduce public complaints. He described efforts to recruit part‑time plow drivers and to cross‑train staff (CDL training) to maintain service levels.

Smalls emphasized liability exposure for failing to inspect ditches and noted that failing inspections or permitting could leave the county financially exposed in the event of property damage. Commissioners asked about contracting options, neighboring-county arrangements and drone inspection potential; Smalls said drone inspection has been discussed but not implemented.

The board approved the reclassification and the motion carried. Staffing and procurement steps to fill the position or contract to cover work are to follow.","The board approved moving the vacant ditch inspector position to a higher pay grade to help recruit and meet statutory inspection cycles, while Public Works presented an annual report covering roads, ditches, equipment and funding sources.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6517260,"Meeker County rejects operator proposals for landfill transfer station, will issue new RFPs and explore sale",824,223000,1047000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055&start=223&end=1047","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419330-ea2b78ee5c29e82c94daa4dd15f39055/thumbnail_223000.jpg","/articles/6517260/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-rejects-operator-proposals-for-landfill-transfer-station-will-issue-new-RFPs-and-explore-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517260-d6809d03ba72257eca95b1636d698120/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911965&Signature=oUfmFc2bxtL1iEbPx6jhGZNRB3gIcz4UuS0S0PeTkUzkgJoBcXmO3442AeIMVU1I8LbPWH1BAO4L1f6ClI8lsrAKKrUzCpLXxbvQ6FiXKf8g-aJ8h4mWJ1kKtcolYilGBwlOlLmLAERTN4QNhuB9CyfOyzvlWlV79KC3IOITG5vnZvyg3dpA9w6ZmVKMJ3pbNYzlqnUxOfGXxM35tWcJzyifr7rz2EkQPdOZngZKQJUT~axSYAB1cF5a9fwBQW1wY0cgDA08r0zaWDoGyaeMmNEqXhdY3r37wZUfL-lB3HjzwpnVZdl8uqNya6n6Cm0vUchVskkRCvjha4QVPR0k1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Meeker County Board of Commissioners on July 15 voted to reject three proposals to operate the county landfill transfer station in Litchfield and directed staff to issue new requests for proposals, including a possible solicitation to sell the site.

The vote came after Land Use Director Greg Schultz outlined options considered since a February work session: issue a new RFP for operations, have the county operate the site, sell the site, or continue with the existing operator. Schultz told commissioners seven parties were solicited on June 6; three companies submitted bids: Innovative Resource Recovery, MWS Logistics and Stockman Trucking. One bidder separately expressed serious interest in purchasing the property rather than only managing it.

Schultz and the commissioners said operating the site with county staff would not yield clear budget savings because of equipment and other costs. Commissioners were also concerned about long-term obligations tied to the demolition portion of the landfill: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will set closure requirements, and county staff gave a range of possible capping costs from about $1.5 million to $3.5 million. Schultz said one recent estimate for landfill capping was roughly $275,000 per acre with about 13 to 14 acres of demolition-area material that would require capping; the county’s total property is about 43 acres.

Commissioners discussed timing and next steps. Schultz said staff plans to issue a public RFP for sale in mid-August, leave it open for about a month, and return with recommendations around mid-September. The county noted the transfer station operations could continue while sale solicitations proceed, and that selling would remove direct county control over pricing and operations — risks the board said it would weigh in any future negotiation.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Samtke moved to reject the proposals; the motion was seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

The board did not adopt any sale terms at the July 15 meeting; commissioners said they will set a sale price and vet any purchaser if a purchase proposal is received. Staff said MPCA permitting and potential closure obligations would shape negotiations and any future costs.

Next steps outlined by staff include issuing an August RFP for potential purchasers, soliciting bids publicly, vetting potential buyers, and returning to the board with a recommendation in mid-September.","After reviewing three bids, the Meeker County Board of Commissioners voted to reject proposals to operate the county landfill transfer station and to pursue a new request for proposals — including a potential sale — with an August RFP and a mid-September follow-up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Meeker County selects Hartford for life insurance and MetLife for paid family leave and short‑term disability administration

Meeker County approves reclassification for ditch inspector; public works outlines backlog, equipment and funding

Meeker County rejects operator proposals for landfill transfer station, will issue new RFPs and explore sale