Health district to keep county WSI plan

The new public health district employees learned at the Foster County Commission meeting last week that they will get to keep their workman’s comp insurance plan (WSI) until the end of 2024.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, June 20, Lisa Hilbert and Colleen Sweet of Foster County Public Health along with Holly Zieman of the Foster County Board of Health attended the meeting to request they stay on the county’s CEG plan and keep their WSI as well as the services that go along with it.

CEG is a group workforce safety plan for North Dakota counties available through the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACO).

Mike Wolf, CEG Underwriting & Loss Control Manager of the NDACO attended the meeting via phone to help explain what CEG is, when it came to be and how it can be utilized by the health district if they stay on the county’s plan or if they venture off on their own.

Wolf said CEG or County Employer Group was formed in 1996 by all 53 counties in North Dakota. It has initiated risk management, increased speed and efficiency in claims management and reduced workers compensation premiums. Safety programs have been implemented in all 53 counties, creating a safer workplace and reducing on-the-job injuries.

Hilbert was especially concerned about losing valuable safety training if they lose their seat on the county’s plan and what it would cost the newly formed health district to have their own plan.

The commission passed a motion to keep the health district on the county CEG plan until the end of 2024.

The health district will reimburse the county for their cost of the CEG plan premium.

In other business:

• Commissioner David Utke brought up a discussion about the board getting tablets.

He said in his research he has found out that it would cost $40 per month for each of the board members to have a tablet.

They all agreed that they don’t need to get tablets in the immediate future, but would like to at some point, if only to save paper.

• It has been noticed that people are not slowing down when signs and flashing lights are present at road construction within the county.

Commissioner Becky Hagel, as well as the rest of the board and the Foster County Road Department, would like people to please slow down.

• Hagel brought up a discussion on selling the county gravel pit.

She asked the board if they wanted to put it out on bids or auction it off.

It was decided to put it out on sealed bids and allow those with the two highest bids to raise their bid until it is sold.

Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster said she would have the legal notice available on August 1.

• Deputy Auditor Hailey Bachmeier reported that they have received $110,000 for the October - December 2022 early season snow removal assistance with more to come.

• Finally, Utke said after the campground inspection they found that there is no fire hydrant at the campground at Lake Juanita.

• The board also discussed signage for tents again and it was stated that the $10 per night sign was back up at the campground, but shouldn’t be, because the cost is now $15.