Posted: 6/29/04
County changes radio maintenance company, better service expected
By David Heiller, Argus News Editor
The Houston County Board has agreed to pay an additional $600 a year for maintenance on its emergency radio equipment in the hope of getting better service.
The approval at the June 22 commissionersí meeting followed a recommendation by Sheriff Mike Lee to change the maintenance agreement for its radio equipment to Whitewater Wireless of Rochester.
The change will take place on July 1, when the contract with Communications Services of La Crosse expires.
ìI think our service with La Crosse Communications has gone down in the last few years,î Lee told the board.
He felt that the county would receive better service with Whitewater, and that the old system was being poorly maintained.
Good radio communication is vital to his department, he said. ìThatís our life blood is our radios.î
The county will pay about $6,600 per year, which is about $600 more than the old contract. But the improved technical support will justify that increase, jail administrator Mark Schiltz said.
The maintenance agreement covers all the emergency radio equipment in the county, including in the sheriffís office, the radios in the cars, and the portable radios for the staff. The radio towers on top of the Caledonia water tower and sheriffís office, the repeater towers in Hokah, and the Houston fire repeater towers will also be covered.
Insurance shopping
Also at the county board meeting, which lasted less than half an hour, the board approved a recommendation by personnel director Tim Comstock to advertise for coverage for health, life, dental, and disability insurance. The Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) will help with the process, he said.
The county presently has insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Comstock. ìWeíre shopping, weíre looking for options and alternatives,î Comstock said. High deductible plans or a VEBA mechanism are possibilities, he added.
Comstock told The Argus on June 25 that VEBA stands for Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association. It is a funding mechanism that is set up with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. These would be part of a high-deductible health plan. Itís a common system that is part of a consumer driven health plan option, Comstock said. More information will be presented on it at future board meetings.
In another insurance item, the board voted at its June 15 meeting to withdraw its liability insurance through MCIT for the Houston County Economic Development Authority effective January 1, 2005. That coverage will now fall under the countyís overall liability coverage, saving the county about $1,400 per year.
Caledonia Argus
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