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County begins rapid review of new employee wellness providers, targets October rollout
Summary
After its current wellness vendor withdrew, county HR presented a study session to evaluate eight providers, plan demos within a week, form a selection group, and aim for 60–90 days to implement a program by late October to preserve employee incentives.
Pottawattamie County — The Board of Supervisors held a study session to begin selecting a new employee wellness provider after the county’s prior vendor notified the county in late April that it would cease participation.
Jasmine Elmore, director of human resources, and Jamie Behrends of the auditor’s office outlined a pool of eight potential vendors identified for review. Staff and the broker recommended scheduling vendor demonstrations as the next step; Elmore said demos could be arranged within about a week and that implementation typically requires 60–90 days, putting a target implementation window around October so employees can access incentives for the next fiscal year.
Board members emphasized cost transparency, return-on-investment information from vendors, and contract protections — one supervisor asked that future contracts include at least 180 days’ cancellation notice after the county’s prior vendor gave short notice. Staff estimated current annual wellness program costs at roughly $17,000 and said the program affects about 220 county employees (estimate included covered spouses in some counts). County staff recommended forming a demonstration and evaluation group that would include HR, the new budget director, a secondary-roads representative (to reflect non-desk employees), and employee representatives to review demos and provide feedback.
HR said some vendors offer tailored programs rather than a fixed set of six metrics and that the county prefers options that let employees accrue points across activities throughout the year. Board members directed staff to schedule demos, start the evaluation grid the county assembled and return with a recommendation; the board will consider options at a future meeting and could take action once the selection group reports back.
