Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Enter flower photographs in this contest Author to discuss children's book publishing 10 things to know for Monday Herptilian haven New Ashland cell tower light angers neighbors Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergecy Services, March 16 Emergency services, March 15 Emergency services, March 14 Judge denies motion to suppress evidence in Rogue River serial murder case Medford man gets 4 years for burglaries Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Education Work your body to save your braaaaains St. Mary's School buys campus from parish for $6.5 million Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Environment Herptilian haven Proposed new rules for Oregon critter catchers would require the killing of nuisance animals Jacksonville requests extension on reservoir dam-notching permit Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift State News At Dorchester Conference, Oregon Republicans look past a bruising election Curry County commissioner's decision to opt out of insurance causes clamor Gov. Kate Brown to declare drought emergency in Lake, Malheur counties Lebanon High School sharpshooters aim for national titles Man languishes in Oregon jail, hasn't commit a crime Nation - World Obituaries James Albert Button Marjorie Ann Carter Rosaline (Tagudin) Wasierski Kenneth L. Swenson Frank Richard "Dick" Middaugh Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Hulce captures two gold medals Fantasy Sports: Mike Trout clear star of young outfield crop Spartans’ season comes to end Aldridge scores 24 points, Blazers beat Raptors Tourney filled with great story lines Varsity 541 College Sports Tourney filled with great story lines Cowboy Up Young, No. 13 Irvine gear up for No. 4 Louisville No Contest Maguin, Parks shine in Raiders' opening meet Pro Sports Spartans’ season comes to end Aldridge scores 24 points, Blazers beat Raptors Spieth proves clutch at Valspar Celtics end Pacers' winning streak at seven Defending champ Djokovic advances to third round Community Sports Business Latest Stories Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Oregon winemaking emerges as mighty agricultural force Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Blog: Are You Superstitious? Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: March madness and other madness Letters to the Editor, March 16 Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Letters to the Editor, March 15 Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Editorials Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 16 Letters to the Editor, March 15 Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 13 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Columns Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Charles Krauthammer: Early Onset Clinton Fatigue George Will: The prescience of Daniel Patrick Moynihan Dana Milbank: Jason Rezaian's detention a tragedy for Iran Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Prudence Hilburn: Loaded potatoes, Buffalo chicken call for Candied Bacon Bites for dessert Wry & Ginger: Things that go ‘batter up’ in the night Community blog: Top toast with smashing beet, cheese spread It Is What It Is: My idea of the perfect home Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Food Prudence Hilburn: Loaded potatoes, Buffalo chicken call for Candied Bacon Bites for dessert Community blog: Top toast with smashing beet, cheese spread Gail Ciampa: Colcannon Soup with Parsley Pesto is a vegetarian alternative for St. Patrick’s Day Kitchen Call: St. Pat’s minus the corned beef Community blog: Have a ball at this weekend's cheese festival Home and Garden Home Help: This top garage trend keeps gaining momentum The delightful work of flowers Using universal design Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Garden Cameos: Time to give your garden a new look Health Community blog: Denial is Not a River in Egypt Health Watch: Living smart to protect your heart Community blog: Can Twentysomething Depression Be�Healed? Dr. Murray Feingold: What’s your excuse for being late? Community blog: The Future is Now Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Theater Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Music Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre SOU's Chamber and Concert choirs present 'Songs of Passion' City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Stafford to lead Oregon innovation, entrepreneurship strategy ... Herptilian haven ... Our View: Keeping the light trained on government ... Stafford to lead Oregon innovation, entrepreneurship strategy ... Herptilian haven ... Our View: Keeping the light trained on government ... CURRY COUNTY Curry County commissioner's decision to opt out of insurance causes clamor Comment By Carly Mayberry The (Coos Bay) World MailTribune.com By Carly Mayberry The (Coos Bay) World Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Carly Mayberry The (Coos Bay) World Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News GOLD BEACH — When Tom Huxley ran for the Curry County commission seat last November, his platform was based on the promise that he'd only accept a $10,000 annual stipend rather than the $65,000 yearly salary that the commissioners in that county currently receive. He also did not want the health insurance that costs the county upwards of $12,000 a year per employee. Huxley is retired and covered by Medicare. The idea went over well enough with the voters of the economically challenged county for Huxley to defeat incumbent commissioner David Itzen by a 15-point spread. Huxley, known to be frustrated with the county's government, had previously stated that it needed a structural overhaul and more transparency from the current commissioners. But what otherwise might seem like a simple request by Huxley was evidently not so simple when it comes to the workings of county government and its established employee benefits. On Tuesday, after previous email and phone correspondence between Huxley and county officials, the Curry County board of commissioners held a workshop to discuss Huxley's continued request to forgo the regular commissioner salary and health benefits. That's because Curry County has had an agreement with the Oregon Teamsters Employee Trust for health insurance coverage for their non-represented employees since December 2000. The contract requires the 47 non-bargaining employees that it covers to participate whether they need the coverage or not. Under the Trust's rules, employees are not allowed to opt out. “I did not need it or want it,” Huxley said about the health insurance. “By what authority were they telling me I must take it? There's the challenge. Because we said so? Well, that's not an authority.” Another issue involved is Oregon's minimum wage law and how it relates to Huxley's requested $10,000 stipend. After discussion among commissioners Susan Brown, David Brock Smith and Huxley, along with Curry County payroll and personnel coordinator Julie Swift and assistant county counsel Shala Kudlac, it was determined that the county would look into alternative insurance options for non-represented employees. “We're looking into getting new insurance for our employees,” acting chair Brown said. “We're gonna have to. We can't tell a commissioner that he has to do this or that. We can't obligate him to do something he doesn't want to do.” For now, Swift will look into other insurance options while Kudlac said she will consult with the two private attorneys who have been working at no charge on Huxley's behalf. One of those is labor law attorney Bruce Bischof, who routinely represents employers on such matters. Kudlac was assigned to deal with the issue by county counsel Jerry Herbage. He declined to comment on the issue, explaining that the case had been assigned to Kudlac. Kudlac, who works out of Carleton Law Offices in Bandon, did not return repeated phone calls regarding the matter. At Tuesday's workshop, Huxley, who noted the two revised positions from lawyers representing the Oregon Teamsters Employee Trust Non-bargaining Unit written in two separate letters, attributed the discrepancy to the possibility that this situation hasn't yet come before them. “Nobody's ever said 'no' ... now be creative and see what we can do to work around this — because the ones who need to benefit are the taxpayers of the county, not Tom Huxley, not the Teamsters, not Shala, not Dave, not Susan — but the people,” Huxley said. Huxley has not received any pay for his job so far due to his refusal to sign employee paperwork presented to him in January on his second day in office, which would have bound him to the Oregon Teamsters Employee Trust agreement. He noted that it was during that meeting with Swift that he first learned about the correspondence between the county and Fallon Niedrest, a legal consultant used on labor issues. In the email dated Nov. 21, 2014, between Niedrest and Swift, Niedrest explained that paying a commissioner a stipend would violate minimum wage laws. “They had known this seven weeks prior and it wasn't disclosed,” Huxley said. “Had we known about this, think of what we could have accomplished as a solution?” In an email addressed to Herbage on March 5, Huxley wrote, “I was elected by the citizens of Curry County to represent (to the best of my ability) their best interests as commissioner in exchange for a $10,000 stipend as full compensation. I was not elected to serve at the pleasure of the Teamsters Union or any other collective bargaining group.” He continued, “In my wildest dreams I never imagined it would be so difficult to not accept wages and benefits totaling approximately $350,000 over a period of four years from a county teetering on financial collapse.” Huxley was, however, allowed to sign a document opting him out of receiving the county's PERS (Public Employees Retirement System). While those in attendance at Tuesday's workshop discussed other possible solutions, Swift maintained that the current benefits under the Oregon Teamster Employees Trust were the best deal for the county economically and benefit-wise for its employees. She also said that breaking such an agreement on behalf of one employee would be punishing the others. In terms of other counties in Oregon, non-represented employees of Coos County are also on a similar Oregon Teamsters Employees Trust with a “no opt out” rule. However, Bishof, who represents legal scenarios in six Oregon counties, said none of those other counties that he represents have such a plan. Many counties have health insurance through CCIS (City-County Insurance Services). For his part, commissioner Smith said the question regarding whether or not Huxley could opt out of the usual commissioner's salary and benefits should have been addressed before Huxley's campaign pledge was ever made. “It's a very difficult time in Curry County's history,” Smith said. “There are county employees who need this benefit package.” He cautioned that breaking the trust agreement could ultimately cost the taxpayers more and broached the idea that the county just pay for Huxley's premium whether he needed the insurance or not. Public comment was also part of Tuesday's workshop. Carl King, a retired attorney and Nesika Beach resident, spoke on Huxley's behalf. He said that since the day he was sworn in, county officials have been trying to coerce Huxley into taking benefits that he doesn't want or need. “To try to force Tom to do something and then if he won't do it to blame him for harming 40-some families in the county — that is just not what I expect my government to do and I, too, applaud him for standing up and sticking to his guns,” King said. “It may be hard to re-negotiate but to sit here and just say, 'Well, Tom Huxley is going to force 47 families to lose their health insurance' is absurd. Your job is to find solutions not to just stick problems at us. I'm tired of every time someone comes up with something a little different the answer is always, 'No, you can't do that.' We should be looking at a way to do it. That's what the voters expect.” King was the author of the defeated Measure 8-76. The proposed home rule charter, which was supported by Huxley, would have replaced the three paid county commissioners with five volunteer citizens who would receive a $10,000 stipend a piece and acounty manager to take on the day-to-day issues of the county's 20 departments. It also would have made four of the six elected departmental positions appointed. By Carly Mayberry The (Coos Bay) World MailTribune.com By Carly Mayberry The (Coos Bay) World Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501