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FRIDAY » JULY 12, 2013 » GALLATIN, TENNESSEE » SERVING SUMNER COUNTY SINCE 1840
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City faces insurance hike BlueCross BlueShield projects unexpected 28 percent premium increase By Josh Cross Gallatin News Examiner
A resolution to Gallatin’s budget impasse will likely not happen in July due to an unexpected increase in the city’s health insurance premiums for the upcoming year. The current director of personnel, Amy Summers, told
members of the Gallatin City Council Tuesday that the city’s health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, projected a nearly 28 percent premium increase, or $676,438, in the upcoming year. “We were not expecting that, so that’s a little bit of a surprise for both the agents and us,” Summers told the council.
Claims, which were 16 percent higher than expected, and utilization, which was 32 percent higher than expected, Graves were the main reasons cited for the increase, Summers said. “(BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee) is paying out more than we are paying in,” she said. As part of a budget Mayor Jo
Ann Graves presented in May, the city had anticipated spending $100,000 more in health insurance premiums in the upcoming year. Graves said Wednesday that the city could not absorb the more than $500,000 cost difference and that the city would bid out its policy in an attempt to find a cheaper rate with a different carrier, and would review its coverage. “Because the city had budgeted $100,000 for increases in
premiums, we must resolve this difference of $500,000 before the budget passes,” she said.
Resolution weeks away
The city did not find out about its premium increase until after the council’s last meeting on June 25. The city is typically notified of any changes around July 1 each year, Summers said. Tuesday’s meeting was the first since June as the
» BUDGET, 2A
School breakfast gets a makeover
BOLD ENOUGH CHALLENGE
Limits on snack foods coming in 2014 By Jennifer Easton Gallatin News Examiner
Kit Sinyard with the Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition and Chris Poarch with the Tennessee Army National Guard at the site of the Bold Enough Challenge Rodeo planned for Friday and Saturday at Triple Creek Park in Gallatin. DESSISLAVA YANKOVA/GALLATIN NEWS EXAMINER
Rodeo helps fight drug abuse Event offers family-style fun By Dessislava Yankova Gallatin News Examiner
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, but organizers of a rodeo this weekend hope the money raised from the event will help tackle the problem. The Bold Enough Challenge Rodeo is planned for Friday and Saturday at Triple Creek Park in Gallatin with events for the whole family. The rodeo is the only fundraiser for the Gallatin-based Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition, an organization that aims to eliminate youth substance abuse. “It’s a family friendly event that supports our community and our efforts to combat substance abuse in Sumner County,” said Executive Director Kelly Hennessy-Pierce. The organization partnered with the Tennessee Army National Guard, Madisonville-
based Hedrick Rodeo Company, and Nashville-based Aegis Labs, the event’s main sponsor, to put on the rodeo. “Right now, we’re noting a big problem with prescription drug misuse among all ages,” Hennessy-Pierce said. “There’s no perception of risk. Many people believe just because it’s prescribed by a doctor, it’s safe. Prescription drugs are also easily accessible. Many people don’t lock their medicine cabinets, and we encourage people not to keep medicine in the house if they don’t need it.” Unneeded or unwanted medicine can be disposed at a special drop-off box at the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office that is constantly monitored by deputies and emptied by Drug Enforcement Agency officials.
» RODEO, 3A
IF YOU GO What: Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition Bold Enough Challenge Rodeo When: July 12-13, 7:30-10:30 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m. Where: Triple Creek Park in Gallatin Cost: $10 advance, $15 door, $5 children 6-12 years old, free for 6 and under Tickets are available at the Farmer’s Co-Op in Gallatin, Sumner County Tourism Bureau in Gallatin, Volunteer State Bank in Portland, Capital Bank in White House, Macon Bank and Trust in Westmoreland, Trail West in Hendersonville and Wilson Post in Lebanon.
Hyde: Precinct change notices were ‘misleading’ By Jesse Hughes
For the Gallatin News Examiner
Some county commissioners are upset again at the Election Commission’s decision to close and consolidate nine voting precincts after the Election Office mailed out new voter cards with a notice commissioners say was misleading. County committees had previously discussed cutting the Election Office budget as a response to the precinct changes but ultimately did not. County Commission Chairman Merrol Hyde said Monday he was willing to drop the matter of precinct changes and closures until he received a letter that was “somewhat misleading” with his new voter card. He read the first paragraph that refers to redistricting and object-
Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley shows a precinct relocation sign to Election Commission members Beverly Staten, Thomas Boyers V, and Patricia Polston. JESSE HUGHES/FOR THE GALLATIN NEWS EXAMINER
ed to the second sentence: “As a result, your precinct or districts may have changed.”
“That has nothing, absolutely zero, to do with all these precinct changes,” Hyde said. “It’s
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almost back to, ‘The (County) Commission did it, and it was by law.’ That was by choice. That was not by law; that was a choice (of the Election Commission).” Hyde suggested asking the Election Commission to send another letter to correct it. Or, alternatively, he said the County Commission could fund a mailing or run a newspaper ad to make it clear to the public that the County Commission was not responsible for the precinct closures. “I really resent that there was a big dodge going on here in taking responsibility that didn’t have to be done for these changes,” Hyde said. Com. Kirk Moser said Hyde’s suggestions might be too expen-
» PRECINCT, 3A
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Health experts have long touted the benefits of eating a healthy meal in the morning, and this year, more nutritious breakfast options are coming to Sumner County Schools. In the second year of implementing guidelines in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, breakfast served in school will now contain more whole foods and agespecific calorie targets. The first stage of the reforms was implemented with school lunches last year, requiring local school districts to plan menus based on whole foods and calorie ranges, rather than nutrient analysis. Schools will make gradual changes to the lunch and breakfast programs over the next decade with the overall goal of improving student nutrition and fighting childhood obesity. Students last school year began seeing the changes to their lunch tray with more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, limited starches and sodium, and zero trans fats. Cafeterias began baking more breaded foods rather than deep frying and offering more dark green leafy vegetables. New lunch guidelines set calorie ranges at 550-650 for grades K-5, 600-700 for 6-8, and 750-850 for 9-12. Some new rules were difficult to digest at first for some high schoolers who don’t always readily accept change as well as younger students, said Linda Becker, school nutrition supervisor for Sumner County Schools. While some complained about not getting enough to eat with the new calorie limits, students are actually being served more food than before, Becker said. “I think what a lot of the high school students didn’t like was (that) they weren’t getting (more) fries,” Becker said. “They didn’t think they were getting enough food if they weren’t filling up on french fries.” The difference is students are being offered more whole nutrients and fewer empty calories, she said. “If students selected all that they can get — if they
» BREAKFAST, 3A FIND OUT MORE » U.S. Department of Agriculture Choosemyplate.gov » Center for Science in the Public Interest Schoolfoods.org