Commission plans further changes to insurance tack

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners backtracked on an earlier personnel policy change after several county employees and citizens voiced concerns.

"The department heads requested that we make some changes," County Manager Don Adams said. He noted that numerous current employees would be affected by the earlier proposed changes that would have taken place in five years.

A number of workers from the Alleghany Department of Social Services were on hand at the meeting to listen to the proceedings.

He asked the county commission to rescind its earlier vote to make the changes. While the changes would not have forced employees to retire, Adams said that it would give them 'great incentive.'

The earlier proposed changes made the county's retirement insurance harder for most employees to obtain. The county pays full insurance benefits for all retirees who meet certain criteria set forth by the state. The changes would have made employees wait 30 years prior to getting full benefits from the county. Employees would receive 50 percent benefits from the county in 20 years.

However, Adams said many employees feel that they should get the same benefit package that was in place when they were hired.

Upon polling commissioners, all of them agreed with that assertion.

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