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Beaver City Council adopts handbook language to pursue six-month employee wellness trial
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Summary
After reviewing a staff survey showing strong employee interest, the Beaver City Council voted to add handbook language committing the city to develop an optional wellness program and to trial it for six months while staff refines program details and vendor options.
Beaver City Council voted April 15 to add language to the city’s personnel handbook committing staff to develop an optional employee wellness program and to run a six‑month trial of that program.
Staff presented survey results showing broad interest: "There were 23 employees surveyed, 19 respondents, 82% respondents, of full time employees who participated in the survey," staff said, summarizing the data used to shape the proposal. The presentation noted that many respondents indicated they would use exercise options if offered and suggested incentives and biometric screening as possible components.
Councilors and supervisors raised operational questions about timing, supervision and public perception. "There has to in my opinion, there has to be a clear separation of that time," a council member who supervises staff said, arguing supervisors need guardrails so work is not displaced by exercise time. Others pressed for measures to avoid abuse and to track participation: staff proposed sign‑ins and usage statistics for the trial.
The motion — made by council member Tyler Skeena and seconded by council member Randy Hunter — passed on a voice vote. The motion directs staff to draft handbook wording that states Beaver City will support and develop an approved wellness program, and to return with implementation details. Councilors suggested retaining a third‑party wellness vendor, including biometric screening and annual checkups as possible elements, and considering non‑wage incentives such as HSA deposits or discounted memberships rather than guaranteeing paid exercise hours.
Next steps: staff will refine handbook wording and cost options, investigate vendor and insurance questions (including worker’s compensation implications for on‑the‑clock exercise), and return to council with a proposed implementation plan for the six‑month trial.
The council approved the handbook language and trial motion without a recorded roll‑call tally; details and program rules will be brought back to a future meeting for formal adoption.