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Kossuth County Board makes employee open-enrollment mandatory, schedules benefits briefing
Summary
The board voted to make open-enrollment attendance mandatory for employees beginning in 2025, and asked staff to prepare side-by-side benefit comparisons for a May open-enrollment presentation by their broker.
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on April 8 to require employee attendance at the county's open-enrollment sessions for 2025 and thereafter unless the policy is changed by the board.
Supervisor Stecker moved to make open enrollment mandatory; the motion was seconded and passed with all supervisors voting in favor. The board said the requirement is intended to ensure all employees receive the same information about benefit options and any changes to policies or plans.
Staff described a plan to offer multiple sessions—three time slots plus an optional evening session by reservation—to accommodate shift workers. Michelle Moon, the county's insurance representative, is slated to present a side-by-side comparison of current plans and potential high-deductible alternatives; the board discussed having her attend in person May 28 or May 29. County staff and the board agreed to prepare draft hypothetical comparisons that would show how monthly premiums, deductible levels, and possible county contributions to a health savings account (HSA) would affect employees.
Board members discussed logistics including offering a 5 p.m. session for shift workers by reservation and recording attendance requirements; department heads were asked to encourage employees to attend and to sign off when an employee cannot. The board set a follow-up item to review the comparisons and discuss plan options at the next meeting and asked staff to consolidate materials provided by the broker before that session.
Why this matters: Mandatory open-enrollment attendance changes how benefits information will be delivered to county employees and could affect employee choices, preparation, and payroll administration. The board also signaled interest in exploring a high-deductible/HSA option and asked for illustrative cost comparisons to inform employees' decisions.
