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Hibbing City Council approves consent package, hires and routine contracts
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Hibbing City Council approved a consent agenda including financials, payroll and personnel actions, accepted a workers' compensation renewal that lowered the city's premium, and carried a series of routine contract awards and transfers.
The Hibbing City Council on Feb. 18 approved a broad consent package that included accounts payable checks #182084–182198 totaling $3,249,388.39, payroll for the pay period ending Feb. 6 totaling $650,358.33, and a set of personnel and permitting actions.
The council signed off on a workers' compensation policy renewal and related administrative amendments for the city's 2026 health plan with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota as part of the consent agenda, and authorized hiring actions including a lead equipment operator and a full‑time equipment operator I, both pending pre‑employment contingencies. Council also approved Resolution No. 26‑2‑9 approving a labor agreement and memoranda of understanding with AFSCME Local 791 and authorized a raffle permit for the Hibbing‑Chisholm Breakfast Rotary to hold an event at the Hibbing Armory on May 5, 2026.
City staff noted fiscal benefits tied to the insurance decisions elsewhere on the agenda. Mr. Persinski reported the workers' compensation program renewed with a modification factor of 0.94 and a renewal premium of $332,000, substantially below the $717,000 figure used for prior budget planning; Persinski said safety committee work over prior years produced the lower rate.
Other approved routine items included the transfer of $150,306.64 from HEDA proceeds into the land acquisition fund, allocation of a $166,989.56 EMS aid payment for debt service on the 2024 Northstar ambulance, and authorization of standard administrative agreement amendments to support the 2026 health insurance plan.
The council approved the consent agenda on a motion by Councilor Bayless with support from Councilor Swiberger. Several individual consent items were listed and approved without separate debate.
