During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around ongoing litigation and health insurance plans for county employees.

The county attorney reported on a federal lawsuit related to the Americans with Disabilities Act stemming from incidents at the Warren County Jail in April 2017. The attorney requested an increase in budget allocation for future legal fees, proposing a rise from $40,000 to $60,000 to cover ongoing costs associated with the case. The attorney expressed hope that the case could be resolved without going to trial, indicating that further details would be discussed in an upcoming executive session.

Additionally, the attorney highlighted a recent notice of claim received on August 8, 2024, which has already been closed due to a lack of liability on the county's part. This swift resolution was attributed to the hiring of a part-time risk manager, which the attorney noted would likely lead to more efficient handling of claims in the future, positively impacting the county's insurance ratings.

In a separate discussion, a supervisor raised concerns regarding the complexity of the county's self-insured health insurance plan, particularly in light of an 11% increase in costs. The supervisor shared insights from the Town of Haig, where a high-deductible plan was implemented, allowing the town to cover the deductible for employees, effectively providing them with a significant raise while saving costs for the town. The supervisor suggested that similar strategies could be explored for the county's health insurance offerings.

The meeting concluded without further agenda items, and a motion to adjourn was passed.