The Grays Harbor County commissioners took action Monday directly affecting county employees’ medical coverage choices, Elma voters and Seabrook.

Insurance

During the Oct. 16 meeting, the commissioners approved a resolution that will allow county employees to opt out of the county’s medical insurance coverage. If an employee opts out, that employee will receive an incentive.

Some county employees (more than 40 according to the commissioners) already opt out of medical coverage through the county because of various reasons — the most common reason is they are covered by their spouse’s insurance. The commissioners hope they can encourage more employees to opt out, if they can.

The resolution approved on Oct. 16 would see every employee who opts out receiving an additional $475 each month. The commissioners believe the county will save some $110,000 annually through the opt out incentive program.

The resolution refers to the opt-out clauses as “both a cost-saving measure and an efficiency of process.”

Employees who opt out but later change their minds can opt back in during open enrollment, or during other certain circumstances that make them eligible again (the birth or adoption of a child, for example).

Elma drop box

The City of Elma now will be home to a ballot drop box.

For several years the city has urged the county to install a ballot drop box in Elma, but those requests have been met with no action.

It took an act of the state Legislature to get a ballot drop box in Elma.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature passed senate bill 5472 mandating ballot drop boxes in most communities.

The bill states “the county auditor must establish a minimum of one ballot drop box per fifteen thousand registered voters in the county and a minimum of one ballot drop box in each city, town, and census designated place in the county with a post office.”

The deadline to install the box was July. The county has been working with the City of Elma to draft an agreement and the commissioners approved that agreement on Oct. 16.

The ballot box will be located in the alley between City Hall and the Elma Fire Department parking lot on Second Street.

Seabrook

The commissioners approved a contract with Rognlin’s Inc. for the construction of the Seabrook pump station project. That project is estimated at $945,000.

The county has agreed to pay $400,000 and Seabrook has agreed to pay the remaining amount, according to the commissioners.