Toledo council reviews insurance spike, fire vehicle purchases and $300,000 water safety reappropriation

The Toledo City Council on April 29 reviewed and recommended approval of a slate of departmental contracts and appropriations, including a $1.3 million stop‑loss insurance renewal, a reappropriation of $300,000 for Ohio EPA‑required cross‑connection (backflow) surveys and several large purchases for Fire and Rescue.

The most costly item discussed was the city's annual stop‑loss insurance for its self‑insured health plan. Mike Nagelski, director of human resources, told council that the recommended one‑year contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield would run from June 1 through May 31 and that the estimated cost is $1,300,000. "The way this stop loss works... once that claim hits $600,000, then the stop loss insurance kicks in and reimburses us anything over that amount," Nagelski said. He and the city's benefits consultant said the increase from last year (about $795,000) reflects recent catastrophic claims; council recommended passage on first consideration.

Councilors also reviewed three Fire and Rescue items affecting vehicles, equipment and stations. The department sought up to $850,000 from the capital improvements program to purchase an additional ambulance (which can take roughly three years to deliver), several trucks for special operations and arson investigators, and to fund the next vehicle in the replacement cycle. Separately, Fire requested up to $250,000 from CIP for station improvements — roofing, HVAC, parking lots and security — and said an immediate needs list for seven urgent projects totals about $1,000,000. Jamie Powell (Fire) and Deputy Chief…