Council approves 2026 Medica renewal and updates to employee handbook attendance rules

On Nov. 10, Pawnee City council members voted to approve the presented 2026 renewal options for the city’s Medica health insurance plan and to adopt several employee-handbook edits that clarify call-in requirements and disciplinary steps for attendance violations.

Jess Colo of Your Insurance Coach told the council the Medica premium would increase about 4.3% overall, from $8,606.55 to $8,975.29 per month, and that lowering premiums would require narrowing the provider network. Deputy City Clerk Kellie Wiers and Foreman Spencer Cumley both said they preferred keeping the current provider network despite individual premium increases of 5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, because of provider access concerns. Council Member Susan Eisenhauer moved to approve the presented renewal options; Council Member Pat Hatfield seconded and the motion carried.

Separately, the council adopted attorney-recommended changes to the Employee Handbook’s Attendance & Tardiness and On-Call sections. The handbook now requires employees who report an absence to: (1) give a specific reason for the absence, (2) state whether they are using vacation or sick leave, and (3) provide the expected return date. A notification of "I'm not coming in today" is not an approved absence. The handbook will require a doctor’s note or other reasonable documentation for sick leave used for three or more consecutive workdays. The council also changed the discipline response for a 'no call, no show' to a written warning pursuant to the Discipline Policy, Paragraph 2. Council directed that employees sign off on the updated handbook.

Both the insurance renewal and the handbook revisions passed by roll-call vote among council members present.