Following their work session on the evening of April 2 the Warrenton Board of Aldermen also held their regular meeting and addressed several measures of note. 

Kristy Arciszewski, area senior vice president for Gallagher Insurance, spoke to the board about the renewal for their employee benefits contract. The city’s current health and dental insurance agreements were set to expire on May 31. 

Arciszewski said she had discussed two goals with city officials. 

“One was you need to save the city money,” Arciszewski said, “and two was we would like to try to streamline the vendors.”

She said she had gone out to bid to other providers after one of the current providers, United Healthcare offered an 8% increase on their previous rates. She said they were able to negotiate the same or lowered rates for the various packages available to employees. 

“Our initial original renewal from United Healthcare was an 8% increase that represented about $55,000,” Arciszweski said, “so we went out to bid and once we got the competitive bids back we were able to negotiate that 8% increase down to zero.”

They also proposed a change from the current dental, life, vision and disability providers to Standard Healthcare for a cumulative annual savings of just under $3,500.

A motion was made by Alderman Larry Corder to approve the recommendation from Gallagher to maintain United Healthcare as their main provider and pivot to Standard for the remaining coverages. That motion was seconded by Alderman Roger Romaker and carried unanimously. 

Aldermen also heard discussion from City Administrator Brandie Walters about potentially closing Forrest Ridge Drive to traffic at Pool Park Road. She said they had proposed using a lockbox and gating off the road as the development continues near Pool Park.  

Walters went on to say she had consulted with the police and public works departments and they had signed off on the plan. Mayor Eric Schleuter raised questions about whether other first responders had been consulted about closing the road. Board members were in favor of the decision but wanted to consult with the fire district first.

Walters also proposed a code change to cease bringing temporary liquor licenses to the board and instead approve them administratively. The licenses are used by businesses that do not usually sell alcohol or for community events and according to Walters are not legally required to come before the board. 

The board agreed to move forward with the code change. 

She also presented aldermen with a code change to the city’s ordinances concerning water deposits for city utilities. The code change would hold commercial customers’ deposits for five years and residential customers’ for two years. Landlords with two years of satisfactory payments would no longer be required to submit deposits on their rentals. 

That code change also was approved.

The board also approved the sale of the property at 267 Willow Road to a Warrenton couple. The property covers roughly six acres and was purchased for $300,000. 

In their last measure of the evening, aldermen considered the reallocation of funds for an animal control officer van. The city had originally appropriated $36,100 for the purchase however officials had difficulty finding an acceptable vehicle at that price. 

Instead they will be repurposing a Chevy Trailblazer currently used by the police department and purchasing a Chevy Malibu as a replacement for $25,300. The remaining funds will be used to refurbish both vehicles for their new law enforcement capacities. 

Alderman also recognized the three finalists for the design of the new city logo. Diane Reisinger, whose logo was chosen, and Jennifer Junker were present at the meeting, the third finalist Michelle Bernth was unable to attend.