Bulletproof windshields, health insurance on court agenda Benefits costs to double, commissioners say
GEORGETOWN — The rising cost of healthcare benefits for county employees and the installation price for ballistic windshields on law enforcement vehicles headlined this week’s Commissioners Court meeting.
In addition, a Taylor High School standout received a commendation from the Williamson County Commissioners Court for her achievements both on and off the tennis court.
During the June 2 session, Williamson County commissioners approved changes and updates to the county’s healthcare program, but no decision was made regarding the windshields.
Instead, commissioners asked Williamson County Sheriff’s Office truck commander Craig Griffin to return with more information.
“I think this is something we can all get behind, but I need a little more meat on the bones before I’m ready to vote on it,” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long.
“
“I need a little more meat on the bones before I’m ready to vote on it.”
— Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long The other commissioners agreed with her. Their concerns revolved around the storage of the standard windshields removed from the vehicles.
When the older models are sold, the bullet-resistant windshields must be replaced with the original glass.
In addition, parking and protecting county vehicles without a windshield came up.
“What’s the overall cost going forward with this?” Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said.
She projected the price tag to remove and replace windshields, to store them and possibly law enforcement cars could tally around $40,000.
In other court business, eight unused field training officer stipends were transferred to the Sheriff’s Office before they expire in four months.
Meanwhile, Human Resources Director Shelley Loughery presented updates and changes to the county’s fiscal year 2027 healthcare benefits plan, including a rate increase up to 42% for some employees.
Covey pointed out that while that number sounded shocking, the county had gone four years with no rate increase.
Acknowledging no one was going to like it, she said, “We have to. We have to make sure we have the money to pay for our benefit plan.”
Other changes to the plan include getting employees to take part in the county’s wellness program.
“We have really ratcheted up our focus on the wellness (program)…Some (illnesses) are not preventable, but 80% of the reasons we go to the doctor generally are,” Long said, urging department heads and officials to promote participation in the wellness program to their employees.
Another update to the healthcare program is a change affecting nicotine users.
The county had tried to persuade smokers to quit by requiring attendance in nicotine programs and adding a $100 insurance surcharge to smokers.
“It hasn’t worked,” Loughery said. “We can’t force behavior change.”
Moving forward, nicotine programs are offered on a voluntary basis and the extra surcharge to smokers will be removed.
Meanwhile, Rylee Michna of Taylor was also awarded a proclamation in her honor by the Williamson County Commissioners Court.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles read the proclamation, followed by pictures with Michna and her parents, Buddy and Monee, the commissioners and County Judge Steven Snell.
Commissioners will next meet at 9:30 a.m. June 9 at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.
