Chair moves to adopt AIM Medical Trust plan 5; body adds short- and long-term disability and specifies vision and life options

The Chair called a special meeting to order to decide on the town’s AIM Medical Trust policy renewal and asked Tara to present the renewal packet. Tara summarized the packet and highlighted that the trust’s new pricing would reduce the town’s medical premium by roughly 3 percent and include a November premium holiday, one of only two the trust has offered.

Tara, who performed the roll call and presented plan details, said AIM’s medical pricing was slightly lower and in some cases provided higher limits than the town’s current coverage. “In fact, Rossville, she contacted me yesterday and wanted to know our contacts so she can have them come talk to their counsel,” Tara said, and she later told members, “this is just the 2nd time in the trust's history that we will have a November premium holiday.”

Tara explained that dental coverage is handled separately through Midwest Marketers/Delta Dental and that vision rates are guaranteed through 2029. She noted the municipal basic life premium dropped from $4 per month to $3 per month per employee for the same $25,000 benefit.

The meeting focused heavily on whether the town should add employer-paid short-term and long-term disability. Tara outlined example terms for ancillary disability plans and cost estimates: plan 2 has a $750 maximum weekly benefit, a 67.67% benefit percentage and a 90-day maximum period; she calculated the short-term cost at about $18.98 per employee per month on one example plan. Tara said these ancillary benefits are often employer-paid and that, if adopted, their costs would need to be incorporated into the salary ordinance and would begin in 2026.

Members questioned whether part-time employees and the elected clerk/treasurer could be covered. Tara said she would check AIM Medical Trust rules and, if AIM cannot extend coverage, she would obtain quotes from Globe Life for supplemental policies. “If AIM says no, you have to first have our medical,” Tara said, and she offered to investigate eligibility for part-time staff and the police officers.

After discussion, the Chair moved to adopt AIM Medical Trust plan 5 at a total premium of $3,821.34 and to add employer-paid short-term and long-term disability using plan 2 for full-time employees, with part-time coverage included if allowable. The motion was seconded and approved by voice/raise-of-hands; the Chair stated the motion carried (no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript).

A member then moved to amend the motion to specify vision option 2 and to keep the basic life coverage at plan 1; that amendment was seconded and approved by raise of hands. The Chair confirmed the packet and the choices would be sent in to AIM as part of the renewal submission.

Tara also alerted the group to a forthcoming public hearing on the town levy and noted legislation and property tax credit changes were expected to reduce town revenue in coming years (she cited an estimate of about $26,000 this year). She said she had reviewed the town code "blue papers," found rate errors (including trash rates with incorrect effective years) and arranged for corrected pages to be provided at no charge. The meeting adjourned after those announcements.

The staff follow-up items are: (1) submit the renewal choosing AIM plan 5 and the specified vision/life options; (2) confirm whether AIM will allow part-time employees and the elected clerk/treasurer to enroll in short- and long-term disability or, if not, request Globe Life quotes for supplemental coverage; and (3) place corrected code pages and a public-hearing item on the next agenda.