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 Board members present were board Chairman Chuck Ruben, Vice
Chairman Emily Davenport, Bob Farmer, Dave Blankenship, Kevin
Bateman, David Hepler, Gene Rohlfs, Bob Sanders, Scott
Schaffenacker, Adam Schmidt and Annette Welch. Janet Dahmm was
absent.
Guests included insurance representatives Nancy Schaub from R.W.
Garrett Agency, Nathan Whiteman from WorkTitan LLC, Joe Ryan from
Country Financial, and Don Frontone from the Stone River Group.
Guests from county offices included Joyce Westen from the highway
department, Larry Westen from the assessor's office, Theresa Nickel
from the circuit clerk's office, victim witness coordinator Lisa
Bobb, and judicial secretary Lynette Bruce.
Insurance, Legislative and Liquor Chairman Adam Schmidt said two
companies put in a bid to be the county's consultant for health and
dental insurance for the next three years. He said two other local
consultants, Steve Schumacher and Joe Ryan, did not put in bids.
Ryan sent the board a letter thanking them for the opportunity, but
said agreements written out by his company do not allow him "to
quote a net of commission plan."
Schmidt asked consultants Nancy Schaub and Nathan Whiteman to each
present their plans and tell why they would be the best fit for the
county. Each presenter was given up to five minutes to speak.
 Nancy Schaub said she has been director of agency services for R.W.
Garrett Agency for almost 26 years. The agency has 18 employees
working with group health plans, individual plans, and Medicare
plans. She said, "we service approximately 850 policies placed with
numerous insurance carriers" and "our service packages tailor to the
individual needs of each customer to ensure that their expectations
for a positive experience is attained."
Schaub said the agency works with over 50 municipalities. They have
a wide range of services including pricing evaluation, medical claim
analysis, flex plans, and health savings accounts. She said the
company's strengths are "negotiating and strategic planning, product
knowledge, claim resolution, and employee communication."
Schaub said the company believes "maintaining strong partnerships
with the carriers" helps provide "meaningful options to clients."
They are a preferred provider for Health Alliance.
Schaub said her agency has worked with the county since 1981 except
for a few years when the county was with the American Healthcare
Plan. The county was covered by Health Alliance for many years, but
moved to Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2013. This move helped the county
avoid a 37 percent rate increase from Health Alliance and $360,000
in additional costs while improving benefits.
Schaub said the past few years, her agency has negotiated renewals
to "less than a three percent increase" and "saved the county
$180,000." The employees were able to keep the same benefit levels.
Schaub said in the consulting role for the past thirty years, the
company has "balanced the fiscal responsibilities of the board while
providing a comprehensive benefit program for the employees and we
hope to continue to work with the county."
The board next heard from Nathan Whiteman, Human Resources and
Employee Benefits Solutions expert at Work Titan LLC.
Whiteman said he has lived in Logan County for 31 years and has
"strived to build an insurance career the last ten years." His
company has an office on Pekin Street, in addition to Peoria and
Springfield locations.
Whiteman said his office "services over 100 employee groups similar
to Logan County." He said they serve groups larger and smaller than
the county.
Whiteman said, "We have strong relationships with the carriers we
would be quoting for the county," whether it would be Blue Cross or
Health Alliance among others.
 Whiteman said, "I believe in relationships. My core value is
building relationships with not only the county in this case, but
more importantly the employees. I really feel like a happy employee
is a happy employer." Whiteman said he believes in being attentive
to employees.
Whiteman said, "I put a bid in of $30,000 per year" for consulting,
which is "anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 below market value." He
based the amount on what commission would pay through other
carriers.
Whiteman said Blue Cross is not allowing them to take "a net of
commission quote, meaning that we must be paid commission by Blue
Cross." He said Blue Cross's approximate commission at the agent
level would be $29,000 per year for health and $6,800 for dental.
Whiteman said that would put Blue Cross commission at around
$35,000. He said they would only select Blue Cross as a vendor if
the county felt it was the best choice for the year.
Whiteman said, "If selected as your consultant, the first thing I
would do is meet with the HR and the benefits administration team
here at the county to identify what the goals are, what the
challenges have been, and to put a plan in place of how to meet
those goals."
Whiteman said he would shop the insurance markets and come up with
proposals for the best plans. He provided members with a packet
explaining his company's work and a letter of recommendation from
Illinois College, who is one of their clients and has 250 employees.
After the presentations, the board and county employees had some
questions.
Board member Scott Schaffenacker asked about the commission fees
because Schuab's bid was $25,920 and Whiteman's was $30,000. He said
the county should pick the lowest possible bidder.
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Schmidt said Schaub's bid was per person and is based on 108 employees because
the dental portion is commission based.
Schaub said with more employees, the amount would be more.
Board chairman Chuck Ruben said the consultant's job is to look at companies to
see if they are cheaper. They will pick policies when insurance expires.
Schmidt made a motion to select Nathan Whiteman as the health and consultant for
the next three years.
Board member Kevin Bateman said the higher bid is $4,080 difference and "that's
a lot of money."
Schmidt said, "Essentially what we have done is gone out for transparency and in
the transparency, we have found what commissions are." Even with higher bid,
they have already saved $6,000. Schmidt said, "I called Illinois College" and
the person he talked to had many "good things to say" about Whiteman's
expertise.
Bateman asked the county employees for their thoughts since it is the employees'
plans and policies and the person they have to work with.
Bobb said she feels this year, employees have been well represented and thanked
Schmidt and the board for looking out for them. Bobb appreciates the
transparency and competitiveness and said she hopes plans brought forward keep
employees in mind. She said some find it hard to make insurance payments just
for themselves. Bobb said she has faith in Schmidt's direction.
Bruce said the county has an ongoing responsibility as far as what is better for
the county, each employee, and the taxpayers.
Davenport asked if the difference in commission rates had any effect on
premiums.
Schmidt said it would not affect premiums at all unless they went with Blue
Cross Blue Shield, which includes commission rates in their total premiums.
Ruben asked whether a consultant fee where there was not commission would be
prorated in the health insurance or if it would be an additional cost to the
county.
Schmidt said fees are included in a portion of what employees pay.
Schaffenacker said Schaub has proven over the years to be the lowest responsible
bidder and said he would vote no for Whiteman.
Board member Annette Welch said Whiteman sounds like he would be able to help
employees and answer questions, providing one on one attention.
Bateman said he was torn because he is a "pennypincher," but it would not be
first time county voted for someone "who is not the lowest bidder."
Davenport said Schmidt has kept the board up to date on the process and knows
what he is doing.
Board members Gene Rohlfs and Chuck Ruben both said Garrett Agency had kept
increases to a minimum and done what the county has asked.
Schmidt said they are saving $6,000 even with the $30,000 bid since commissions
with some companies would be $36,000. Schmidt said, "What I am looking at is the
total benefit Nathan has provided with other employee plans, so that is first
and foremost to me."
County Clerk and Recorder Sally Turner said some employees have had questions
about insurance costs.
The board office administrative assistant said she would like to know about less
expensive plans.
Schmidt said once a consultant is chosen, those questions should be written down
and given to the consultant who could research it as an expert and provide
experts.
Schmidt's motion to approve the selection of Nathan Whiteman as a consultant for
the county's health and dental insurance passed with 8-1-2 with Emily Davenport,
Bob Farmer, Dave Blankenship, Kevin Bateman, Gene Rohlfs, Bob Sanders, Adam
Schmidt and Annette Welch voting yes; Scott Schaffenacker voting no; and David
Hepler and Chuck Ruben abstaining.
Ruben thanked Schmidt for all the work he had done.
Schmidt thanked Schaub for all her agency has done for the county over the years
and reminded her she could bid again in three years.
The next Regular board meeting will be Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
[Angela Reiners]
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