MARYSVILLE – When inflation hits, everyone feels the effects. The Union County Board of Commissioners can attest to the fact that they learned at their regular meeting this morning that health insurance costs for the county and county employees are expected to rise early in the year.
Ginger Yonak, director of human resources, told the board this morning that the county remains in negotiations with the insurance company, but fully expects county and county employee premiums to increase in 2023.
Exact bonus amounts have not been finalized as negotiations continue, but Ms Yonak said the insurance company will offer a wellness program and employees who participate will see a lesser amount reflected in their bonus. total. Still, all employees — and the county, which contributes to the plan — can expect to see increased health insurance costs in both cases.
The Commission was puzzled to receive the information as it may see the writing on the wall for some time, but will encourage county employees to participate in the wellness program to help both employees and the county save money. a few dollars on an already significant financial commitment. , that is, the health insurance costs paid by both.
In other news, Eric Phillips, executive director of economic development, told the council that projections show the housing pinch felt in Union County could continue as, while around 9,300 jobs are available in Within 20 miles of Marysville, the new real estate boom – as gigantic as it may seem right now – may not be able to keep up with demand with a major hurdle being individual township zoning laws.
The Commission has no control over the zoning law, these rights coming under the bailiwick of the townships, villages and towns. Townships hold very near and expensive zoning rights and the recent wave of solar farms springing up across the Union and surrounding counties and the explosion of growth in Dublin and Jerome Village have not gone unnoticed by residents of rural townships in Union County, many of whom abhor sprawl and can do anything in their power – impose very restrictive zoning laws, for example – to avoid being swallowed up by the metropolitan area.
Mr. Phillips was also technically retired and immediately rehired with a resolution passed by the board at the meeting, with Mr. Phillips having been out of work for about 10 seconds. Mr. Phillips has worked for Union County for 22 years and is the “new” Executive Director of Economic Development after serving in the role for the past few years. Mr. Phillips and the county agreed to a five-year contract with wages set at $110,240 a year with a wage freeze on the first three years of the contract.
The council also approved a resolution that will continue to allow the Jerome Village Community Authority (JVCA) to operate a district of authority in the village through a board of directors, as it has had since its inception. Once described as “an HOA on steroids”, the JVCA owns much of the infrastructure and is said to be quite rigorous in enforcing the rules of the agreement between Jerome Village and its residents. Commissioner Dave Burke and Chris Schmenk said that as long as residents or homebuyers are fully aware of the regulations imposed by the JVCA, they see no reason to change what appears to be working and the resolution passed without further ado. comment.
The Union County Board of Commissioners will meet again on Wednesday, September 28 at 8:30 a.m. at the Commission Chambers, 223 W. 6th St.
