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Council approves budget amendment, renews insurance and clears June 8 street event
Summary
West Branch approved a FY2024 budget amendment to cover salaries, equipment and bond expenditures, approved health insurance renewals (Wellmark +4.9%) and ancillary MetLife coverage, and authorized an alcohol-permitted street closure for the June 8 Kickoff to Summer event.
At its May 6 meeting the West Branch City Council approved Resolution 2024-38 to amend the fiscal year 2024 budget, citing increased needs and newly received project funds. Finance Officer Heidi Van Auken told the council the amendment was driven by public safety salaries, training and recruitment costs; worker’s compensation insurance; purchase of equipment such as a leaf vacuum and a mobility lift for Town Hall; bond payments; partial self-funded health claims; and the purchase of new water meters and meter-reading software. The city also received bond funds for the Eastside Water Main Phase 2 that required inclusion in the budget amendment.
The council approved the renewal of the city’s health insurance with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield with a 4.9% premium increase (Resolution 2024-44). The council also approved ancillary coverage renewals with MetLife (Resolution 2024-45); City Administrator Adam Kofoed said the ancillary rate increase was attributable to low participation and employee turnover but that participation increases could reduce premiums next year.
Council also approved Resolution 2024-43 to allow consumption of alcohol on the 100 block of North Downey Street and a street closure for the city’s Kickoff to Summer event on June 8, 2024. The approvals were passed by unanimous council votes.
