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County to cut future employees’ post-retirement health insurance

Lycoming County government employees hired after Jan. 1, 2014 will no longer receive county-provided, post-retirement health insurance, based on the commissioners’ decision Thursday.

“This is the county’s effort to reduce legacy costs,” Commissioner Jeff Wheeland said. “This is part of a result of Obamacare.”

Commissioner Tony Mussare said this difficult decision is necessary to keep county government solvent.

“We see the writing on the wall,” Mussare said.

Commissioner Ernest P. Larson noted over half the state’s counties do not provide health insurance after retirement.

In other matters, the county received a $244,484 check from The Hartman Agency Inc., 420 William St., which provides insurance services to Lycoming County government, for the 2012-13 period due to the county’s safe work environment yielding fewer injuries, keeping workman’s compensation down.

Over the last 10 years, more than $2.4 million has returned to the county thanks to lower claims, agency Vice President Mark C. Sitler said.

Wheeland praised the effort.

“The commissioners invest a significant amount of taxpayer dollars into providing county workers with a safe working environment. These returned dollars are a substantial return on that investment,” Wheeland said.

The commissioners also approved the final step of awarding Community Development Block Grant funds to various entities for approved projects:

Tiadaghton Valley Municipal Authority/Porter Township sewer laterals -$16,900

Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority/DuBoistown Borough sewer laterals – $25,194

Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority/DuBoistown Borough sewer laterals – $120,299

Tiadaghton Valley Municipal Authority/Nippenose Township sewer laterals – $89,882

STEP Inc. Homes in Need program – $100,000

Tiadaghton Valley Municipal Authority/Nippenose Township sewer laterals -$413,430

SEDA Council of Governments administrative services agreement – $4,200 increase for environmental reviews

Transfer of $5,420 allocated to the Franklin Township/Lairdsville Sewer project to the YWCA building renovations.

The commissioners awarded $10,000 of natural gas drilling impact funds to DuBoistown Borough Sewer’s Valley Street sewer pump station improvement project; and $20,000 for Mifflin Manor Sewer System planning and improvements project.

The commissioners approved $17,163 for the purchase of furniture for District Magistrate Jon E. Kemp’s office off of a Costars contract.

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