Outlook Healthy for Toombs Wellness, Insurance Plans

At the May Toombs County Commission meeting, County Manager John Jones presented the county employee’s health insurance renewal plan for 2021 2022. This was the first year of the partially self-funded plan, which started on July 1 of 2020, along with three other options: The Health Savings Account Plan (HSA), a base Plan, and a Buy-up Plan for which an employee can pay more for fuller coverage. The overall goal is to move to one plan only, the HSA plan, where most health insurance plans are going. In this plan, the money an employee adds to the savings account, and that is added by the county on behalf of the employee, is member-owned, and does not expire. Jones said, “Because we had a good year with claims, the renewal for the coming year was down 8.7% from last year. This is the first time we have done this in the nine years I have been here. We feel like with the overall wellness plan in place and moving toward the partially self-funded plan, this is helpful to county employees. We’re excited about that.” The Commissioners approved the renewal of the health plan as presented.

Two Commissioners, Darriel Nobles and John Raymond Turner, were reappointed to the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging. Nobles said, “I enjoy being on this Commission. We meet every month in McRae. There’s a lot of free stuff for older people, if they qualify. We help people get in touch with specialists to help them.” The Commissioners approved an agreement between Georgia Central Railway and Toombs County. County attorneys prepared a proposal and the Railway attorneys made revisions that were acceptable regarding 50 feet of rightof- way at the entrance to the courthouse on Highway 280. The two-part agreement is: The Railway is to give the county 50 feet of right-of-way running the length of the county courthouse property along the railway, and the County is responsible, after construction is done, for paving the railway crossing to tie into parking lot paving, and to put a structure or landscaping on the landline between the properties. This structure is to prevent pedestrian crossing, except from the courthouse parking lot crossing. For this crossing improvement provided by the County, the Railway will give the County rightof- way and the easement on the property line.

Greater Vidalia Chamber of Commerce President and Toombs County Development Authority Director Michele Johnson reported that nominations for the next class of Leadership Greater Vidalia will be accepted through May 30. Contact the Greater Vidalia Chamber for a nomination form.

Showcasing Greater Vidalia will be Friday, June 11, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Vidalia Community Center. “How the West Was Won” will be the theme for this annual event where businesses showcase their products and services, and people can network. The admission cost is $50.

Johnson said, “It’s amazing that, even through Covid, the Chamber has done very well. We haven’t lost members; we had a net gain last year. So far, we’ve had 15 ribbon cuttings this year. I think the business community is making a comeback.”