Neenah council approves 9.44% health-insurance increase, removes spousal surcharge and OKs several contracts

The Neenah Common Council on Oct. 15 voted unanimously to approve a set of personnel and contracting items, including a 9.44% increase in the city’s overall health-insurance premium, elimination of a proposed spousal surcharge, and several contract pay requests.

Council members approved the health-insurance package after the city’s human-resources director described factors driving the change. Amy Fairchild, Neenah’s HR director, said the city’s stop-loss costs rose because the city must now cover 2025 claims going into 2026, which she said produced a 19.9% increase in stop-loss costs that was applied to the overall premium. Fairchild said the city also is changing employee contributions from 12% to 10% and that the package would include a family-savings option that can give a premium incentive “up to $100 for each individual that leaves the plan.”

The council first amended the committee recommendation to reflect the updated 9.44% overall increase and then voted to approve that increase; the amendment and the final motion each passed 8–0. Alderman Steiner moved the amendment; Alderman Ellis seconded.

In related action, the council removed “option 3” from the family savings plan — the packet identified option 3 as the proposed spousal surcharge for spouses who have alternative health coverage — and then approved participation in the family savings plan as amended. Councilors were told removing the spousal surcharge has no financial consequence to the city but was viewed as beneficial to employees’ morale. That amendment and the final motion passed 8–0.

The council also approved an alternate dental option (described in the packet as an alternate “Care Plus” option alongside the Delta plan) and voted to restructure two long-term casual parks positions into one permanent part-time parks technician position. The parks restructuring passed 8–0; staff said the superintendent will post and attempt to promote internally before posting externally.

On contracting and capital items, the Board of Public Works’ recommendations were approved 8–0. The council approved pay request No. 2 and final pay to Vinton Construction for the Southview Park Court replacement contract PR24-012 in the amount of $129,221.53, to be paid from budgeted 2025 CIP funds. The council also approved a final pay request for the Baldwin Street concrete pavement and sidewalk repairs contract to Jim Fisher Incorporated; the packet and discussion indicated the final pay amount was zero because the item already had been paid.

The council also approved Resolution 2025-11, an institutional investment-agency agreement between the City of Neenah Cemetery and Associated Trust Company; that resolution passed 8–0.

Councilors briefly critiqued timing of the health-insurance information: Alderman Erickson said she was “very upset” the package was presented late and that members needed more time to review such data.

All votes recorded on these items were 8–0 in favor, as indicated in the meeting record. Minutes and backup materials are posted on the city website.

Ending: The council recessed to a closed session after concluding public business; minutes for the Oct. 15 meeting and committee reports are available on Neenah’s website.