(PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
PREMIUM UPDATE … Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner explains a council resolution calling for modest increases to city staff health benefits.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Bryan City Council held a swift session on July 7. President Mary Leatherman called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by roll call.
Attending members were Vice President Richard Hupe, Jim Kozumplik, and John Betts. Stephen Alspaugh was absent. Mayor Carrie Schlade and Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner were also in attendance.
First on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous meeting. The motion to approve was made by Kozumplik and approved by all members.
Following this, the council formally excused Steven Alspaugh, with Betts quipping, “It was a well-deserved vacation.”
Hupe seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. President Leatherman then opened the floor for public concerns, to which none were presented.
Lehner then numbered and read Ordinance 36-2025, which establishes the new salary schedule for the Bryan Volunteer Fire Department, repealing a prior ordinance from 2022.
Fire Chief Doug Pool stepped up to explain that the ordinance’s intent was to make part-time compensation more competitive. Since the last ordinance approval, minimum wage increases have prompted an update.
He noted the new rates would bring Bryan’s fire department within $0.50 to $1.00 of Defiance’s compensation. Council unanimously suspended the rules and approved the ordinance.
Council then turned its attention to employee health coverage with Resolution 34.2025, concerning the annual premium rate for employee health insurance for the period of September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026.
Lehner detailed that the initial quote from Medical Mutual, the city’s longtime provider, projected a 10% premium increase.
However, after further consultation and a reassessment due to very low claim volume, the revised increase came in at a more manageable 5%.
Under the new rates, an employee single coverage plan will increase from $43.78 to $45.78, and a family coverage plan from $119.78 to $125.78. Council again voted to suspend the rules and approved the emergency resolution.
Leatherman invited council comments, but none were offered.
The meeting concluded by moving into executive session at 5:36 p.m. to discuss negotiations with other political subdivisions regarding requests for economic development assistance.
This private session was deemed necessary to protect the interests of potential public fund investments or expenditures related to economic development projects. No action was expected to follow the executive session.