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Resident lashes out at city employees over health benefits, accuses councilmember during Jasper budget meeting
Summary
At the Dec. 3 Jasper budget meeting, resident Michelle Haak criticized city employees for receiving health insurance she said she cannot afford and accused Councilmember Zachary Kounkel of posting video targeting demonstrators; council and staff defended the benefits and said the council will re-evaluate insurance options.
Michelle Haak, a Jasper resident, used her allotted public-comment time at the Dec. 3 Jasper City Council budget meeting to sharply criticize city employees for receiving employer-funded health insurance while she said she is carrying heavy medical debt. "You guys get free health care when I drown in medical debt," she told the council, adding later that city employees "don't give a shit."
Haak also accused Councilmember Zachary Kounkel of posting a video that she said showed someone "smoking out" peaceful demonstrators. Kounkel denied the accusation, saying the person in the footage was Taylor Evans and telling Haak to moderate her language. "It was not me," he said, and added, "they respect you, you respect them."
Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Maggie Erickson and Clerk-Treasurer Renae Thode responded to Haak's comments, saying the health-insurance benefit was presented to employees when they were hired and that the council formally approved the plan. Erickson told Haak, "You guys approved it so don't sit there and say you didn't," and Renae Thode invited Haak to review the plan and the decision process when the council revisits it in October/November.
Several councilmembers and community members urged a broader review of options rather than an immediate change. Councilmember Deb Plahn said she had contacted other towns to learn what they offer; Trinidad Garcia urged the council to seek multiple quotes and to ensure any change does not leave the clerk or other staff with unmanageable administrative responsibilities. "You do not want to remove [an agent] and not have another person to do it," Garcia said, urging a full review of the process.
Councilmembers and staff said they will re-evaluate health-insurance options and seek quotes from local and regional agents. The council did not vote to change benefits at the meeting; officials said the matter will be revisited when insurance options can be fully compared.
