[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6147739,"mediaKeyId","5519969-4f44ef3e174dd0a73e087a9cfea4fd69","parentId",5519969,"title","Port Richey council votes to rejoin PRM health trust; directs staff to study self‑insurance options","audioSeconds",1608,"startMs",131000,"endMs",1739000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519969-4f44ef3e174dd0a73e087a9cfea4fd69&start=131&end=1739","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519969-4f44ef3e174dd0a73e087a9cfea4fd69/thumbnail_131000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147739/Port-Richey-City/Pasco-County/Florida/Port-Richey-council-votes-to-rejoin-PRM-health-trust-directs-staff-to-study-selfinsurance-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147739-6a02708950feb64cfce252b89508202b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437950&Signature=RPkRgAJJBKmYC7iTFF6nFaKRS7xeorztb-Iwf-WPfWaF1WHTDJSCkyNtSFO-1WNVojGDbwqk5XScZpxvtinJ6EuBlGOybS4xNANOgxLkYbF5Wr1HzSpE5oa51s6Rlwamz~9UURzBgmszACo-s-0MD4WI1HMVpYfE-aKBMdTeGkRIGNcxIEwZqvuhUEfOshx7oIcu1Um5QG-6pNm1fPMXQ2DCKTWmaaN50OBp~DwKCTbi-MA3K~FBllPOcFmEC27uiQTXYY9605sQIETrwVuGrt7OOfAoBq0jpLcnGdIdpzDDnHJSKDXoHXePZrPqdOqy-n-hyIMTHsYyqBc26B8kLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Port Richey, FL","date","2025-08-01T02:53:04.69Z","article","The Port Richey City Council approved a motion to rejoin the PRM Group Health Trust with Florida Blue as the carrier for the upcoming fiscal year and authorized the mayor to sign the PRM bylaws cooperative agreement. The motion also designated City Manager Andrew Butterfield as the city’s primary group health trust board member and Sal Acari as the alternate.

City Manager Andrew Butterfield told the council the two options before the city — rejoining the PRM pool or selecting a UnitedHealthcare plan through the city’s broker — both “reflect about a 14% increase in cost to the city over last year.” He said the PRM pool would let employees remain with Florida Blue and keep their existing doctors and pharmacies.

A broker representative (Marsh & McLennan, represented in the meeting by Adam) explained the PRM pool spreads risk across a larger group and that annual increases for a pool “are slight as opposed to being an independent employee base of 70.” Both proposals presented to the council were described as fitting within the city’s budget for FY26.

Councilors raised questions about the city’s recent billed amount for medical services and whether the city should pursue a self‑insurance model. Staff said the city’s billed amount was about $720,000; the actual amount insurers paid was not provided by the broker and was “not specified” in the packet. Staff and council members discussed that while billed amounts can be much higher than paid amounts, moving to a self‑insured model would require administrative arrangements, reinsurance and time to build reserves.

Councilmembers asked staff to begin work immediately to study alternatives, including joining other pools or exploring self‑insurance with third‑party administrators. The mayor said he planned outreach to neighboring governments and county administrators to identify potential pooling or clinic partnerships.

The council approved the PRM‑Florida Blue option by voice vote. The motion included authority for the mayor to sign the PRM bylaws cooperative agreement; it also named Butterfield as the primary board member and Sal Acari as alternate. Council members did not record a roll‑call vote count in the minutes.

Staff noted open enrollment was approaching and said the PRM option would allow an easier administrative transition for employees this year while the city examines longer‑term options. Council directed staff — led by the city manager and finance director — to report back with an analysis of self‑insurance feasibility, possible pool partners, and claim‑payment history for prior years.

The council’s decision sets the city’s carrier for FY26 while starting a directed review that could alter the city’s approach to employee health benefits in future budgets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting 07.31.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Port Richey City Council approved rejoining the PRM Group Health Trust with Florida Blue as the carrier for fiscal year 2026, designating City Manager Andrew Butterfield as the city’s primary board member and Sal Acari as alternate. Councilors also directed staff to research self‑insurance and pool alternatives for future years.","taxTitle","Port Richey City, Pasco County, Florida","taxId",54783,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147744,"Port Richey council approves $13,000 emergency purchase to replace leaking chlorine tank",243,195000,438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519969-4f44ef3e174dd0a73e087a9cfea4fd69&start=195&end=438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519969-4f44ef3e174dd0a73e087a9cfea4fd69/thumbnail_195000.jpg","/articles/6147744/Port-Richey-City/Pasco-County/Florida/Port-Richey-council-approves-13000-emergency-purchase-to-replace-leaking-chlorine-tank","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147744-ed6f3b76cb88329025f8f3d4a9c20374/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437950&Signature=dbkLQW7oLg-lnuYnx8TgXJYyEc6lS-BbUYj4~3oGzsaQ-ND9tOiui6MtfWobF9j1dbfCohoCUPLNGALFw~AMCqSUU-mUMl8CpTqqRfGIv1vwKkeG82RMFgqlWHlLBUcWjwZ4OzVyJvT5-S2Ipk-8Fu2Dj2UkHY97xepjnSyBNLAHS0-4OU-mUPzyRRU1M0PtTY2eHaR~lcZoH9GHcylDtZXnUoOv4CVWPad9YwfJPAoVCqqtGoHsqsTn3rx2bkVJaghBmIs~PtgNDvH2IoeQ4x2k2s8RxaJ0wZi79ApmvlgsmIp2-S4Kx4raCGmrlAISOMWBDq5~XxXdgkAFD7Vr6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Port Richey’s City Council voted to approve an emergency purchase of a 1,050‑gallon sodium hypochlorite bulk storage tank after a water plant employee discovered an interior leak in one wall of an existing double‑walled chlorine tank.

City Manager Andrew Butterfield told the council he was seeking emergency approval “due to environmental impacts and the inability to produce any potable water if the current tank would have completely failed.” He said the lowest bid for a replacement was $13,000.

The purchase was prompted by a leak through the inner wall of the fiberglass tank; council and staff said the leak has passed the first wall but not the secondary containment. Butterfield said the leak is “about 6 feet up on the tank” and that staff will limit how high they fill the existing tank until the replacement is installed.

The tank is 17 years old and staff said outdoor tanks typically last about seven years, while an indoor installation lasts about 10 years. Council discussed temporary measures and asked whether a patch would suffice; staff said the failure is on the inside of the inner wall and that a safe, long‑term repair would require taking the tank out of service.

The council identified Guardian as the vendor to perform the work, noting Guardian has done work for the city before and can transfer the chlorine from the damaged tank to the new tank when they “come to install the new tank.” Staff gave mixed delivery estimates: a vendor form listed 10 to 12 weeks, but Butterfield said delivery was expected in roughly two to four weeks.

A voice vote approved the emergency purchase and the selection of Guardian. No roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council and staff framed the purchase as urgent because a complete inner‑wall failure could cause environmental contamination and disrupt water production. Staff said the new tank will be ordered immediately and the vendor will bring a spare to enable an on‑site transfer at installation.

The council did not specify funding line‑item details on the record beyond approving the emergency purchase. Staff indicated they had sought multiple vendors and selected the lowest responsive bid.

The city will proceed with ordering the tank, schedule the vendor swap, and monitor the existing tank at reduced fill levels until installation is complete.","The Port Richey City Council approved an emergency purchase of a 1,050‑gallon sodium hypochlorite storage tank after a water plant employee discovered an interior leak in a double‑walled tank. Council approved buying the lowest bid, roughly $13,000, and staff said the vendor will transfer the chemical during installation.","actionData","errors"]

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Port Richey council votes to rejoin PRM health trust; directs staff to study self‑insurance options

Port Richey council approves $13,000 emergency purchase to replace leaking chlorine tank