PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
VILLAGE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN PRESENTATION … Lana Ellison (above) of Brown & Brown Insurance discusses health insurance coverage at the West Unity Council meeting held on Thursday, April 9.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS
With the Village of West Unity facing a May 1 deadline for renewing its health insurance coverage for village employees, council members heard a presentation regarding the increase in costs at its regular council meeting on Thursday, April 9.
Village fiscal officer Sarah Higdon told council members there will be an increase of 21.4 percent for renewal of the present health insurance plan.
Lana Ellison and Mike Kurivial, representing Brown & Brown Insurance, presented a summary of all the health insurance carriers they took to market to council members.
Ellison said the insurance firm also requested quotes from the other carriers, and they all came back non-competitive.
Currently, the village has a couple of health insurance renewal options for its employees: $6,000 for single coverage and $12,000 for family coverage with a 100 percent plan.
The village currently pays $16,239 per month for health coverage, but it could increase to $19,000 per month.
“As you can see there is not a huge savings even if you pick those other plans unfortunately,” said Kurivial.
Aaron Dunlap of Klinger Pharmacy of West Unity, who is a pharmacist by trade but has also worked as a Medicare-licensed broker and done some work on the group benefits side, addressed council regarding the village’s health insurance plan and offered some different options for review.
“Tonight was more so just to offer are we okay with the status quo of getting killed with renewals each year, or we want to try something else,” said Dunlap.
Following the lengthy discussion, council made a motion to hold a special meeting on Thursday, April 23 at 5 p.m. to decide on the village’s health coverage plan for 2026.
ROAD PROJECTS AND STORM SEWER
Village administrator Josh Fritsch reported that road projects in the village will be starting soon. He will be following up with Feller, Finch & Associates of Maumee regarding the preconstruction meeting.
Fritsch noted the village had been experiencing plugging issues with the storm sewer running down Water Street.
“There are no catch basins between North Street and Catherine Street, so we have very little way to get in and jet the storm sewer line,” commented Fritsch.
“The plan is to install two new catch basins and about 250 feet of storm sewer line on the 200 and 300 blocks of Water Street. The lines are plugged with roots, and the clay tile is cracked.”
Fritsch also spoke with village solicitor Mark Hagans about what to do for people who want to add an enclosed porch to their house but can’t because of the setbacks required by the ordinances.
Hagans told Fritsch that the village could change its ordinance or give the zoning inspector (Josh Fritsch) leeway to allow adding something like a porch to a house.
NEW HIRE AND POLICE REPORT
Council learned that Blake Jones will begin his employment as a village maintenance worker. His first day on the job was Monday, April 7, with a starting pay of $20 per hour.
Police Chief J.R. Jones told council that he will be conducting ordinance violation checks beginning next week.
Jones also reminded council that the village’s cybersecurity compliance needed to be completed by June 1, 2026.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, council approved the following:
-Established the rates within the specific ranges of pay of certain police officers and employees of the village for the calendar year 2026 in accordance with the current payroll ordinance.
-A first reading on ensuring compliance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund district projects 39-00264 and 39-00558 and establishing policy for open space utilization at West Unity Memorial Park.
The ownership of the 7.06-acre land at West Unity Memorial Park was transferred to the Millcreek-West Unity Board of Education on May 13, 2008, but the site remains encumbered under the Land and Water Conservation requirements.
-Authorized participation in the ODOT Road Salt contracts being awarded for 2026.
-Approved the removal of the left turn sign located near the Farmers and Merchants State Bank on 200 West Jackson Street.
The next regular council meeting will be on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
