Beaver City council approves handbook language to develop six‑month employee wellness trial

Beaver City Council voted April 15 to insert language in the municipal policy handbook committing the city to develop an optional six‑month wellness program for full‑time employees.

Staff presented a workplace survey (23 employees surveyed; 19 responses) that showed substantial interest: 63.2% 'strongly agree' that the city should implement a program that allows exercise during work and 68.4% said they personally would use an exercise option. The presenter recommended including handbook wording that states Beaver City will provide an optional wellness program and suggested a six‑month trial to evaluate uptake and program impacts.

Councilors debated program design and oversight. Some members favored paid time to exercise while others preferred incentives, biometric screening and vendor administration. A council member warned of supervision and fairness concerns, saying there must be "a clear separation of that time" so work obligations are not blurred. The mayoral‑role speaker argued for using a third‑party vendor to run a robust program and emphasized biometric screening and annual physicals as part of a program that could yield long‑term insurance savings: "I think the city should retain a vendor," the speaker said.

After discussion, Council member Tyler Skeena moved — and Council member Randy Hunter seconded — a motion to adopt handbook language that commits the city to develop an optional wellness program and run a six‑month trial. The motion passed on a voice vote; the transcript records an affirmative voice vote with "Aye" and no recorded oppositions. Council asked staff to work with the city's insurance broker and to return with proposed program wording, estimated costs, vendor options and any work‑comp implications should exercise occur on city time.

The next procedural step is for staff to draft the policy language and present a plan with budget and administrative details for council review and potential resolution.

The council also asked staff to track participation statistics during the trial period and to include safeguards against abuse, such as supervisor approval, sign‑in documentation and limits on paid exercise time.