Kankakee County board approves insurance renewals, appointments and proclamations; animal-control fee update passes

The Kankakee County Board on Oct. 14 approved a package of administrative measures including health- and dental-insurance renewals, continuation of the county employee assistance program, an appointment to fill an unexpired board term and two proclamations.

The board voted to renew the county’s group medical plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield using an alternate plan (listed in committee materials as option 4). County administrator Anita Speckman told the board the negotiated renewal reduced the employer-side increase to a 10.6 percent renewal, representing a total increase of $771,800 and an employer share of $578,008.55. The finance subcommittee recommended that option after soliciting bids; three carriers declined to quote and one alternative quote returned a higher rate, Speckman said. “We were able to negotiate a couple $100,000 less,” she told the board.

The board also approved a Delta Dental renewal for the county dental plan. Staff described the county as self‑insured for dental administration with Delta Dental providing network access; the renewal reflected a 9.1 percent increase, which county staff said would raise the single‑person employee premium by about $2.64 per month and family coverage…