Board approves MetLife plan for paid family medical leave, updates ethics policy and approves several personnel actions
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Summary
The Stevens County Board voted to accept the insurance committee’s recommendation to contract with MetLife for paid family medical leave administration, amended the county’s ethics/conflict‑of‑interest policy, accepted a resignation and approved backfill and recruitment measures including a referral bonus.
The county’s human resources and risk staff briefed commissioners on implementation of the state’s paid family medical leave (PFML) program that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026, and presented an insurance‑broker RFP response. The board voted to accept the insurance committee’s recommendation to contract with MetLife, which offered a guaranteed two‑year rate at 0.79% (presented as 0.79%). Staff explained that MetLife’s claims timelines were shorter in peer comparisons and that the committee recommended combining short‑term disability and supplemental health with MetLife to create a more seamless claims experience; long‑term disability coverage with Hartford would be retained with a shortened elimination period.
The board also approved an updated ethics and conflict‑of‑interest policy with added supporting forms (annual conflict statement and a public interest/recusal form to be kept on file with the county auditor). Staff said the language was adapted from neighboring counties to provide clearer guidance about outside employment, gifts and family member eligibility issues.
Personnel actions approved or accepted by the board included:
- Acceptance of the resignation of Tim Shea (child protection social worker) effective July 18 and authorization to backfill the position. - Authorization to pay an employee referral bonus ($500) for that child protection backfill under policy. - Approval of a consolidated job description for a legal assistant / victim‑witness coordinator (position to be 0.25 FTE paid by attorney budget plus grant funds) and authorization to advertise the vacancy; staff noted they will delay final offer until grant funding for 2026 is confirmed.
Staff also reported two new deputy sheriffs had been hired (Brandon Leidhardt, formerly with St. Cloud PD; and John Riggstead, verbally accepted from Swift County). Commissioners accepted the personnel report.
Why it matters: The MetLife decision establishes an administrator before the PFML effective date and aims to minimize claims processing delays. The ethics policy clarifies expectations for employees and officials and preserves written recusal records. The child protection staffing and hiring authorizations aim to address a known recruitment and retention challenge in social services.
All personnel and benefits‑related motions recorded in the public minutes carried by voice vote.
