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GIRARD —
The Girard City Council heard a presentation Monday night from Michael J. Keller of Hardman and Howell Benefits LLC, Wichita, an employee benefits advisory firm.
“Rising health costs were a challenge when our budget was being discussed, and since that time I’ve talked with other cities about this,” said Gary Emry, Girard city administrator. “Several times I heard the name of Mike Keller.”
Keller noted that people plan for many things, but benefits often aren’t part of that planning.
“Then it becomes an annual train wreck,” he said. “We have a unique way of dealing with employee benefits that we call ‘The Pathway’, which examines where you are, where you want to be and how to get there.”
The steps in “The Pathway” start having designated people complete a “DIscovery Homework.” Once those forms are filled out, a Hardman & Howell representative comes in and has a “Discovery” session or discussion.
“It’s a very relaxed discussion,” Keller said. “We’ll want to see if you’re having some of the same kinds of challenges that our other clients have. If so, we can do business. If you’re not, then maybe we shouldn’t.”
He stressed that there is no cost or obligation associated with going through “The Pathway.”
“The process is designed to see if we can bring value to your situation,” Keller said.
Emry suggested that the council members follow up with discussing the matter further at the next meeting.
“Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with going through the Discovery process since there’s no obligation,” he said.
Council members agreed, and Melody Cherry was designated to represent the council at the discussion.
Ken Bradshaw, manager of Girard City Energy Production, updated the council on the process toward compliance with Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
“It’s a big regulation,” he said.
What’s required is the placement of converters on engines to reduce CO emissions by 70 percent. This is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“This all has to be in place and working by May 2013,” Bradshaw said. “There is an extension option, but you have to have a contract in effect before you can be granted an extension. We have accumulated some bids and we’re looking at them. We’ll be back at the next council meeting with firm bids.”
City attorney Richard Loffswold advised seeking an extension.
The Girard City Council heard a presentation Monday night from Michael J. Keller of Hardman and Howell Benefits LLC, Wichita, an employee benefits advisory firm.
“Rising health costs were a challenge when our budget was being discussed, and since that time I’ve talked with other cities about this,” said Gary Emry, Girard city administrator. “Several times I heard the name of Mike Keller.”
Keller noted that people plan for many things, but benefits often aren’t part of that planning.
“Then it becomes an annual train wreck,” he said. “We have a unique way of dealing with employee benefits that we call ‘The Pathway’, which examines where you are, where you want to be and how to get there.”
The steps in “The Pathway” start having designated people complete a “DIscovery Homework.” Once those forms are filled out, a Hardman & Howell representative comes in and has a “Discovery” session or discussion.
“It’s a very relaxed discussion,” Keller said. “We’ll want to see if you’re having some of the same kinds of challenges that our other clients have. If so, we can do business. If you’re not, then maybe we shouldn’t.”
He stressed that there is no cost or obligation associated with going through “The Pathway.”
“The process is designed to see if we can bring value to your situation,” Keller said.
Emry suggested that the council members follow up with discussing the matter further at the next meeting.
“Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with going through the Discovery process since there’s no obligation,” he said.
Council members agreed, and Melody Cherry was designated to represent the council at the discussion.
Ken Bradshaw, manager of Girard City Energy Production, updated the council on the process toward compliance with Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
“It’s a big regulation,” he said.
What’s required is the placement of converters on engines to reduce CO emissions by 70 percent. This is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“This all has to be in place and working by May 2013,” Bradshaw said. “There is an extension option, but you have to have a contract in effect before you can be granted an extension. We have accumulated some bids and we’re looking at them. We’ll be back at the next council meeting with firm bids.”
City attorney Richard Loffswold advised seeking an extension.
“We’ll be going from two to four exhaust stacks and each will have a converter on it,” he said. “When you undertake something like this, more will go wrong than right.”
The council also accepted the low bid of $37,100 by Professional Engineering Consultants, Pittsburg, for the KLINK project. This covers $22,100 for preliminary engineering services and $15,000 for construction engineering.
This project involves the milling and overlay of the sections of 7 Highway from Buffalo Street south to the city limit boundary and from Buffalo Street north to the city limits.
In other business, the council:
• Accepted the recommendation of the city attorney to raise the contractural fees paid by the city to attorney Burton Harding from $300 per month to $400 per month. He works with indigent cases where a jail sentence is sought.
• Voted a Christmas bonus to city employees in the amount of $200 gross.
• Approved the hiring of Mary Kay Mason to the custodial staff of the Girard Public Library at a salary of $10 per hour.
