The Jasper City Council hosted another set of members from the Pickens High School Youth Leadership Program. Six seniors and three Juniors attended the meeting as the Council spoke.

After approving minutes from the February 1st meeting, the council hosted Matt Bidwell, of the MSI Benefits Group, Inc., to speak about the City’s Health Insurance plan. The plan is set to renew with Blue Cross Blue Shield on April 1st unless the Council would change it. While they had budgeted for a 12% increase to insurance, the actual increase Bidwell presented at the meeting amounted to a 13.5% increase after they had plead the case with Blue Cross Blue Shield to drop from 30%.

Bidwell stated they looked at Aetna Insurance as well as the company was able to submit a bid without the entirity of City Employees submiting Health Histories and extra paperwork. However, Aetna would have asked for more than the original 30% increase.

While deliberating the topic, City Clerk Lisa Hoyle said the Council could possibly cover the 1.5% difference between the budgeted 12% and actual 13.5% increase with an “over budgeted” in Liability Coverage the County had. The motion for approval came from Council Member John B. Foust Jr. with the comment that next year he wanted to look into getting all the paperwork from the city employees required for the City to collect more bids.

The Council moved on approving one reduced water/sewer rate application and a read resolution for Section 125 Plan. During the Mayor’s Reports, Economic Development Director Gerry Nechvatal gave updates as the coming Traffic study should be starting by the end of the month and plans are early in process to develop an area near Piedmont Hospital. Plans are hopeful to entice several developments, one specifically being a hotel. Nechvatal himself stated the hotel could be useful as Jasper does not currently have any specific locations for a convention or large meetings and groups.

Another issue was brought up in the meeting as the shop owners on Main Street have been speaking of concerns about parking on Main Street. The problem is said to happen on days that court is in session at the Pickens County Courthouse. Police Chief Greg Lovell stated the City Police are looking to begin writing citations for parking violations in the posted two hour limit locations and are also looking at options including the possibility of a citizen employee to monitor, somewhat similar to a meter-maid you might see in larger cities.

Meeting Financials