Eureka County formalizes Health Insurance Advisory Committee membership and duties

The Eureka County Board of Commissioners on March 19 adopted a resolution that defines the membership, purpose and duties of a seven-member Health Insurance Advisory Committee (HIAC).

Comptroller Kim Todd told the board the county already has departmental representatives participating informally and the resolution is intended to formalize the committee’s appointment process, staggered two-year terms and representation categories (courthouse, administrative facility/annex, road department/public works, sheriff’s office, north-end employee, retirees and an at-large county department representative). The resolution also requires members be in benefited positions or retired from Eureka County and directs the HIAC to work with the county’s health-insurance broker on plan review, premiums and open-enrollment coordination.

Commissioner Marty Plaskett moved to adopt the resolution and Vice Chair Michael Sharkozy seconded; the motion carried 2-0. The resolution specifies the committee will select a chair and vice chair each calendar year, meet in the commissioners’ chambers in accordance with Open Meeting Law, and maintain confidentiality of medical information that may arise in its work.

The board’s action gives the HIAC formal authority to bring plan recommendations to the Board and to coordinate community and employee health events when directed by the Board. The resolution text included in the meeting packet shows it was adopted previously by signature dated March 5, 2024; the commissioners voted on March 19 to formalize and ratify the updated membership language presented at the meeting.