Delaware County Commissioners on Dec. 1 introduced an ordinance (2025‑35) to revise retiree insurance terms and received an update on employee open enrollment that officials said requires urgent action.

The draft ordinance clarifies retiree coverage and would remove spouses and dependents from retiree plans while keeping the retiree cost share at the current 70/30 model (retiree pays 30%). Commissioner Brand opposed keeping the current split and favored a 50/50 share; the motion to introduce the ordinance passed on first reading with Commissioner Brand voting No and Commissioners Reagan and Henry voting Yes.

Human Resources (Josh Jarvis) reported open enrollment statistics: 264 employees had completed enrollment, 29 were incomplete, and 285 had not begun. Jarvis said the county has table times and help‑desk support scheduled and that employees who do not enroll must sign a written waiver to decline coverage or they will not be covered until the next open enrollment unless they experience a qualifying life event. The chair emphasized urgency: "If you're not signed up by Wednesday, you're not going to be covered under insurance for a year." (meeting instruction to employees and department heads to ensure sign‑ups).

Separately, staff presented premium rate adjustments for voluntary and long‑term disability coverage negotiated by McGriff with 1America: a three‑year guaranteed rate was presented with an estimated savings of about $21,000 per year (approximately $64,000 over three years). Commissioners approved adopting that rate.

Next steps: commissioners directed HR to distribute lists of employees who have not completed enrollment to department heads and asked staff to continue outreach and on‑site assistance through the end of open enrollment.