FRANKLIN COUNTY — Franklin County commissioners met on Oct. 14, compensating for the Oct. 13 holiday, to discuss several key items affecting county operations and employees. A central focus of the meeting was an adjustment to the county’s dental insurance plan.
Earlier discussions had highlighted concerns that the current dental plan was not providing adequate reimbursement for basic services. A local dentist raised the issue during a prior meeting, and a follow-up discussion with plan administrators on Sept. 22 confirmed that the reimbursement rates were below average. After reviewing the situation, commissioners approved a 7 percent increase in rates for local, in-network dental providers. This adjustment is expected to make it easier for county employees to access dental services in the area.
The commissioners also reviewed and approved the Samera Health Medical and Dental Administrative Fees Agreement with MotivHealth. The agreement remains unchanged from the previous year and governs the administrative costs associated with employee health and dental coverage.
The meeting began with a report from Randy Henrie on county building projects. At the new event center on the fairgrounds, work continues on tiling the entry area and restrooms. Cabinets and countertops are scheduled for installation next. Basketball hoops have been hung, and insulation is being added. The county is also seeking a company to provide drop nets to protect walls during sporting events. Henrie noted that while exterior work is complete, paving with asphalt has been delayed due to temperature conditions. Commissioners were informed that Altabank has submitted a contract to purchase scoreboards, requesting that their name be displayed on top. Commissioner Zach Stewart inquired whether the event center could be rented for a school dance in December.
Rental rates and scheduling for the center were discussed with Lana Jenkins, who oversees fairgrounds maintenance. She will research comparable facilities and provide recommendations. A plan will be developed to ensure open community access.
Sheriff Cuyler Stoker presented bids for replacing the 20-year-old radio equipment used by dispatch. Only one of the three bids, submitted by White Cloud, included all required items. Brandon [last name unclear] visited multiple counties to review their systems and reported that White Cloud’s solution is user-friendly for dispatchers. Commissioners approved the White Cloud bid, which will allow installation immediately, with full upgrades scheduled for January and February. Funding will primarily come from last year’s budget.
Other items included discussion of a new landfill scale, with installation planned by JC Scale within two weeks. A new scale house will be built west of the current location, funded from the Tipping Building fund, while the old building will be repurposed for storage.
Additional approvals included Resolution 2025-10-14 for the destruction of outdated records, ratification of Ambulance Subgrant #8259, employee health insurance premium reimbursements, and an extension of employee comp time.
Commissioner Stewart provided an update on the 10-year airport master plan, noting that while the existing runway cannot be extended, a parallel runway and taxiway are planned. He also highlighted increasing hangar rentals and a planned land swap survey with a neighboring property.
Finally, retail alcoholic beverage licenses were approved for Preston Golf and Country Club, Stokes Thriftway, The Owl, and Ransom’s Country Store.