Health care for county employees was the overriding topic of last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting with very little good news found in the presentation.
The May 5 meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Weidner, who also led the opening prayer and pledge. The 6 p.m. business meeting was preceded by a brief presentation of Jones County Annual Capital Improvement Element Update by Greg Boike with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission.
Boike noted that the county’s impact fees are at zero, which means there are zero collections.
Planning and Zoning was the first item on the agenda. All three items presented were approved including a rezoning on Blounts Chapel Road from Ag-1 to R-R to allow creation of a 1.1-acre lot, a variance to allow the subdivision of a property Greene Settlement Road consisting of 34.47 acres, and a variance for creation of a substandard private road on Highway 18 West.
Johnny Mixon was the only visitor speaking at the meeting. He said his purpose was to thank Clerk of the Board Shannon Wagner for her help.
“She does a good job, and I’d like to say I appreciate her efforts,” he stated.
Johnathan Shaw, an employee benefits consultant with NFP, said the county’s loss ratio for its health insurance was 133 percent in 2024. That improved this year with a more favorable 94 percent, but the target is 80 percent.
“It’s improving, but it doesn’t take much,” Shaw said.
The consultant said the county had five high-cost claimants that accounted for $1.4 million. He added the rising cost of medications is another issue.
“The cost of specialty drugs continues to increase. They can be life changing but can crush health insurance programs,” Shaw said.
He explained the costly weight loss drugs are only included for specific needs, although obesity is the top chronic condition in Jones County. Another issue Shaw pointed out is more than 81 percent of Jones County employees over 40 did not have a well visit to a doctor. That increases trips to the emergency room, which raises costs.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said the county cannot continue to absorb the rising cost of health insurance. Shaw said they need to get creative because the county has gone over and above in absorbing the cost.
Weidner added that this makes the third year the county has absorbed more than $250,000 in health insurance increases.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said it is time to make some hard choices.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn made the motion to approve the renewal with Cigna insurance at a cost of $3,251,249, which is a 10.4 percent increase over last year, totaling $306,721.
Kitchens made the motion to explore all options for health insurance over the coming year, including meetings with department heads.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Central Georgia Technical College Adult Education Division for the continuation of Jones County’s literacy education program.
The final new business item was the first reading of an amendment to Jones County’s Code to include the package sales of distilled spirits. It was agreed that it would be added that the stores are required to be 1,000 feet from schools, daycares and churches but 300 feet from cemeteries and funeral homes.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. to enter closed session. The meeting was reconvened at 8:25 only to adjourn again with no action taken.
