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At the final Clark County Fiscal Court meeting before Thanksgiving, a previously discussed matter was updated while new information was talked about in detail.

The court approved a motion to pay county employees both vision and life insurance while transitioning vision insurance from self- to fully funded for the 2023 budget year that begins on January 1.

Also, a change in speed limit from 20 to 25 miles per hour around Stoney Brook Neighborhood Association, Inc. could come soon.

Presently, vision insurance has been self-funded through UMR, which is United Healthcare’s third-party administrator.

The move to fully funded vision insurance will occur via United Healthcare.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield provides life insurance.

“The majority of employees would like to have life insurance if they have to choose one or another, but overwhelmingly all of them would like to have both,” said Clark County Judge Executive Henry Branham.

They gathered information from employees following a survey.

Kathi Williams, an employee benefits consultant for USI Insurance Services, spoke and gave a presentation.

Based on 75 employees, 100% of the vision insurance paid by the Clark County Fiscal Court equals approximately $6700.

As pointed out by Magistrate Greg Elkins, there are currently over 75 employees, meaning that this amount will probably increase slightly.

Problematically, there is currently no health insurance network with UMR.

“What’s happening is I’m getting some phone calls from some deputies, some firefighters that they have to file the {insurance] claim, and then wait for the money to come back,” Williams said. “We’re staying still with United, but we would be fully insured, and we get a pretty broad network…I think it would just be a home run for the employees.”

With the motion approved, vision and life insurance are provided during an open enrollment period.

Besides this news, Stoney Brook Neighborhood Association, Inc. has requested changes.

First, they are interested in updating the speed limit sign in the subdivision area.

“Most of our subdivisions are 25 mile per hour speed limits. We have a county ordinance on that”, said Magistrate Dan Konstantopoulos. “How it became a 20-mile per hour [speed limit], nobody really knows…We don’t know if it was an order of the court. I know I couldn’t find anything, any ordinance where that had been set.”

By moving the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, they would be in line with subdivision regulations for the city.

Another recommendation from Stoney Brook Neighborhood Association, Inc. is to add digital speed limit signs.

A third recommendation is to put a three-way stop sign at the intersection of Casa Landa Way and Stoney Brook Drive.

Budgetary and other concerns came up regarding the addition of digital speed limit signs.

However, considering changing the speed limit from 20 to 25 miles per hour and adding a three-way stop sign was tabled to the next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13th.

Not least, a resident – Lloyd Stanfield – asked for reimbursement following required towing on Indian Creek Road.

Although the motion was denied citing not wanting to create a bad precedent, there was discussion regarding the conditions of roads and action that needed to be taken in the future.

“If there was an opportunity for someone to provide the fiscal xourt with…unusual circumstances that shouldn’t be on the county road, then I would certainly think the Fiscal Court should entertain some kind of consideration”, said Branham. “That would be part of the precedent that’s set.”