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Dear Friends,
Here is the link for the board package for our Committee of the Board Helix Water District Board Meeting:
AGENDA
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, September 28, 2016, 3PM
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
The Committee of the Board meets to discuss items at length. No action is taken, but it is an opportunity to brainstorm on ideas, discussion, and ask questions.
Two Items are up for Discussion:
Item 4. The Board Discuss the Tipi and Kayak Reveal Event – new Tipi’s at Lake Jennings, update, status and plan a ribbon cutting event.
Item 5. The Board Receive the Medical Plan Renewals Report Effective January 1, 2017
My Note: As we all know, healthcare prices are extremely expensive in our country. At Helix we provide 100% healthcare coverage for employees and their families, and depending on when you retired various different plans for retirees. The employees can pick from one of the following three plans, Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross HMO and Anthem Blue Cross PPO. Anthem Blue Cross prices are significantly higher than Kaiser, as shown in the table I created below. As part of the last MOU, the employees who are on the Anthem Blue Cross Plans will start to pay $50 a month toward their health care come January 1, 2017.
The Anthem Blue Cross Plans had an increase of 12% across the board. Kaiser, had some increases from 1.71 to 5.61%, much more modest. I truly applaud the employees who are on the lower costing plan, having health care and saving money for the District as every dollar saved reduces our water bills…full disclosure: I am on the Kaiser plan.
I hope we have a discussion on what we can do to control these costs. Perhaps there are cheaper PPO plans out there? With our unfunded OPEB Other Post Employee Benefits liability at $25 Million, every dollar saved reduces our water bills...
Monthly Renewal Rates Effective January 1, 2017
*District did not disclose how many employees are in each section, single, double, family, but they did mention in the board report that there are 10 district retirees with family coverage as retired.
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This November Election for Helix Water District Board I support:
- Division 3 (Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, southern La Mesa)
- Mark Gracyk: has professional experience managing water, regularly attends the Helix Board meetings, and has expressed willingness to be a ratepayer advocate. Website: http://www.Mark4hwd.org
- Division 1 ( El Cajon)
- Dan McMillan: has served on the Padre Dam Water District Board, the San Miguel Fire District Board, has a sound background in finance also pledges to represent the ratepayer Website: www.dan4lowerrates.com
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward email.
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, P.E., M.P.H.
Director, Helix Water District Board
11263 Explorer Road
La Mesa, CA 91941
H619.660.7487
C619.994.6900
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.hwd.com
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping)
www.socalwatersmart.com (rebate link)
Thomas Paine Liberty Torchbearer Award Winner
Per the request of the Helix Water District Board on May 16, 2012, the following language is to be added by all Board Directors in all outgoing Director correspondence. "This correspondence, and any documents attached hereto, reflects the individual opinions and positions of the above-named Director and does not represent the opinions or positions of the District's Board of Directors or the District. Pursuant to Section 9.1-11(A) of the Helix Water District Policies and Procedures Manual, individual Directors, except as otherwise authorized by the Board, shall have no power to act for the District or the District's Board of Directors."
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