Garden City council adopts health-insurance opt-out and approves interlocal, fire and parks contracts

Garden City’s City Council on June 9 approved a package of routine and operational measures — including an annual health-insurance opt-out resolution, a standing interlocal agreement with Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), payment of mutual-aid fire dues, a repair for a backup fire engine, contractor agreements for Radcliffe Center improvements and cancellation of two dormant special-assessment contracts — all by unanimous votes.

The council’s actions began with a staff presentation of the annual “80/20” public‑funded health insurance opt-out required under Public Act 152 of 2011. Staff described the item as an annual housekeeping resolution. Council member Witt moved to adopt the exemption and Mayor Pro Tem Dold supported the motion; the measure passed 7-0. "This is required every year," staff said when explaining the procedural difference between opt-out options.

Why it matters: adopting the exemption allows the city to comply with state law while maintaining the negotiated employee benefits structure described by staff. The resolution was treated as routine and passed without further amendment.

The council then approved an interlocal agreement with Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) that streamlines how…