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Commissioners Approve New Employee Benefits for 2010
Like many employers, the county will see a jump in the cost of health care premiums in 2010 for its two insurance carriers, United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente. Both the county and its employees will pay 4.8 percent more for their premiums in 2010 than they did in 2009, amounting to an $800,000 increase for the county and a $300,000 increase for the county's nearly 3,000 employees. In comparison, premiums for federal employees, of which the government typically pays 70 percent, are increasing 8.8 percent in 2010. The county also will offer employees a new Flexible Spending Account option. Employees can opt to pull as much as $12,170 in 2010 from their paycheck with pre-tax dollars in order to pay for adoption expenses incurred in the course of an adoption of an eligible child. The plan adds to the transportation, health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts that are already available to employees. The new Flexible Spending Account option was an idea that staff initiated and brought to the Benefits Oversight Committee for consideration. The Benefits Oversight Committee examines benefits throughout the year and makes a recommendation about annual benefits to Commissioners each fall before open enrollment. Commissioners have final approval. | |
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BCC Considers Issuing Energy Conservation Bonds
Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Jefferson County has more than $2.5 million to issue in bonds for projects that reduce energy consumption or improve energy efficiency.
 The bonds are part of a $3.2 billion appropriation that the federal government made in February for Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds. Projects that qualify include those that:
- Reduce energy consumption in publicly owned buildings by at least 20 percent.
- Implement "green" community programs, such as grants to citizens who want to install solar panels or wind-energy systems at their homes.
- Provide funding for energy-related research facilities or research grant programs.
- Create mass-commuting facilities that reduce energy consumption or car pollution.
- Implement public education campaigns to promote energy efficiency.
The county is close to finishing an energy audit on its buildings that may identify projects that could qualify for bond money. Staff members will present the energy audit to Commissioners this month. However, Dan Brindle, facilities & construction management director, told the Board that many of the county's buildings are already fairly efficient and may not qualify as projects that reduce energy consumption by at least 20 percent. Projects that have a confirmed return-on-investment for the county would be the first to receive this funding. The county anticipates that savings from projects that result in reduced energy consumption and usage at county buildings would create available funding to pay back the debt obligation on the bonds while reducing the county's energy consumption overall.
Commissioners authorized staff to notify the Governor's Energy Office of the county's intent to use the $2.5 million allocation. Shortly, staff will bring a proposal to Commissioners on eligible projects for the Energy Conservation Bonds. |
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BCC Proclaims October Civilian Conservation Corps Month
In honor of the Civilian Conservation Corps' contribution to projects in Jefferson County and its Annual Gathering and Reunion here from Oct. 8-10, Commissioners proclaimed October as countywide Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Month.
 "The CCC might have been the greatest national youth program ever seen in the USA," Commissioner Kevin McCasky said at the BCC Hearing.
President Franklin Roosevelt created the civilian workforce in 1933.The Corps was for men, ages 17 to 28, who received $1 a day for their work and were required to send everything but $5 a month home to their families.
 By 1936, Colorado was home to about 40 CCC companies, who are credited with a number of conservation efforts in the state, including the creation of Red Rocks Amphitheatre at Red Rocks Park, a six-year effort that may be "the CCC's grandest accomplishment," according to the Commissioners' proclamation.
In the 1930s, the CCC improved more than 10,000 acres of Denver Mountain Parks within Jefferson County. Today, Americorps and National Civilian Community Corps members maintain and enhance those parks.
People who have camped in a Forest Service campground, hiked any of the 110 miles of trails built by the CCC, visited a forest ranger station or crossed any of the 160 forest bridges they constructed have benefited from Colorado's CCC enrollees.
For more information on the Civilian Conservation Corps, go to www.ccclegacy.org. |
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Other BCC Actions
Commissioners Amend Contract for Temporary Flagging Services
 Commissioners approved a request to increase the county's contract with Traffic Control Staffing, Inc., of Lakewood, to increase its current contract by $108,546, bringing the total contract to $257,212. The Road and Bridge Division uses temporary flaggers to provide traffic-control assistance when projects require more people than the county has available on staff. Road and Bridge will be working on projects for the Airport, Highways and Transportation, and Open Space that will require more flaggers through February.
BCC Updates Fire and Building Codes
Commissioners approved updates to the county's fire and building codes to bring them in line with 2009 international standards. The county typically updates the codes every three years, with the last update in 2006. These updates keep Jefferson County current with codes in surrounding jurisdictions and create a more consistent work environment for contractors and design professionals. The 2009 international standards include an energy conservation code that could save owners 15 percent in utility costs. It also includes a recommendation to require sprinkler installation. However, the county is not making this code mandatory at this time and will review that standard again in 2013. To learn more about the county's building and fire codes, visit the Building Division. | |
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