Red Bank Commissioners at a meeting Tuesday night gave approval for an amendment to the city’s “cafeteria plan” for health care benefits. Employees will now be able to include a flexible spending account and health flexible spending account for dependent care. In addition to health insurance, this allows an employee to pick different benefits that the city offers relating to health care. It has been mandated by Congress as part of the conversion to the new federal health care law.
The cafeteria plan allows an individual to open a flexible savings account to be used for certain medical and dental expenses that traditional insurance does not cover. The money that is invested is tax-free and the accounts are active for 15 months. However, after that time, if not used, the money is lost.
It has been a good thing for employees, Commissioner Rick Causer said, after speaking with employees who have set up and used these accounts.
The devastating tornadoes in 2011 left a tree in the middle of a house at 150B Goodson Ave. The house has never been repaired and has been condemned by the city. After foreclosure, the owner of the property was the Veterans Administration. City Attorney Arnold Stulce told the commissioners that the VA realized the derelict property had lost value and so offered to release it to Red Bank as a quit claim deed. This will allow the city to tear down the structure and re-sell the land thereby getting it back on the tax rolls. The commission voted to accept the donation.
Director of Public Works Tim Thornbury told the commissioners that demolition services had been put out to bid for this house. The low bid to do the work came from Havron Contracting Corporation for the amount of $11,363.63. The commissioners unanimously approved authorizing a contract with this company to perform the work.
Another contract was approved at the meeting which will replace the city’s current information technology provider. The new contract has been awarded to Preferred Computers for IT network maintenance and support services. It is hoped that the move will result in better service as well as saving money for Red Bank.
Finance Director John Alexander announced that a USA Cycling sanctioned event will take place this coming Saturday at White Oak Park. The series of nine individual races known as “HUB Endurance Chattanooga,” will be from noon-4 p.m. Each race is expected to take 30-45 minutes. This is the first time the event has been held in the city.
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