NIT – Questions are being raised in the community about a $1 million dollar savings to a county employee health plan that was touted this week by Jay Urdahl and the Cerro Gordo board of supervisors. NIT is beginning to look more closely at the claim and how the supposed savings will trickle back to the taxpayers and citizens. Please consider commenting with your questions for the board.
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from: Matt Marquardt <northiowatoday@gmail.com>
to: JUrdahl@co.cerro-gordo.ia.us,PDoughe@co.cerro-gordo.ia.us,ccallanan@co.cerro-gordo.ia.us
cc: “Drzycimski, Tom” <TDrzyci@co.cerro-gordo.ia.us> date: Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 9:48 AM
subject: Questions
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Good morning gentlemen.
I have a couple questions I’d like to ask:
1) Sources within the courthouse tell me that it is the Board of Supervisor’s unwritten policy to leave NorthIowaToday.com (me) off of all contact and media press release lists. Is this true?
2) Since the press conference the BOS so tenuously orchestrated (my sources have explained this in great detail) Tuesday regarding the health insurance deal, my phone has been ringing steadily asking me to look deeper into this supposed $1 million dollar savings to the county. This leads me to begin by asking:
A) Where will the taxpayers see this $1 million come back to them? If the savings began in 2014, why was this windfall not reflected in a tax cut for 2015?
B) Will we see a tax cut in 2016 due to this “savings”? How much, would you approximate?
C) If no tax cut, what improvements or public works project(s) can we expect this $1 million to be used on? Improvements at the fairgrounds? Crumbling bridges? Biking/walking trails?
D) Is this a “one time” $1 million for the county or is this an every year savings to the taxpayers?
I’m certain you won’t mind me also making some calls to Des Moines to speak with the insurance company about this plan, as well. I feel there is potentially more to the story, and the citizens of Cerro Gordo deserve to know the whole truth, I’m sure you would agree.
Thanks for your answers.
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ORIGINAL COVERAGE OF STORY, FROM TUESDAY, SEPT. 22, 2015:
MASON CITY – Thanks to Obamacare, Cerro Gordo county has saved big on insurance costs for its employees in recent months.
Officials at the courthouse Tuesday claim that the county has saved a net of $1,068,000.21 as a result of what was dubbed as “positive changes” in the county’s employee health care plan.
The county’s top employee, Tom Drzycimski, told NIT that “the Affordable Care Act, … has provided opportunities that were previously unavailable to employers to restructure their plans to derive a cost savings like we’ve accomplished.”
In Cerro Gordo county’s case, Mr. Drzycimski explained, insurer Kingston Life and Health provided “the perfect combination of ACA-expertise and data analytics to propose a solution best tailored to the county’s needs. For us, it was perfect timing.”
The agreement the county now is under with Kingston Life and Health was set in place in July of 2014.
That Mary beth is not Marybeth greenan..please disregard if u thought so..
So is it true that Phil is also a “professional funeral goer”? I heard he preys on attending visitations for self serving political reasons. And has bragged about attending these to a few of my friends. SAD!!!
No. That is Urdahl. Has been doing that for over 25 years. It is for the free funeral dinner..if it is election time..he brings candidates along..he is a free loader and a douche..
I got it from a pretty good source in the Funeral Home business that he is a regular “visitor”
Funny as hell when Jay got Blodgett in trouble a couple years ago when Todd bought him and Phil that illegal lunch. We read about it on here, NIT. It would never of seen the light of day if it would of been up to the Globb. I linked it up to a whole bunch of my friends and put it on Face book. I bet Urdahl still has his hands out for any free meal he can get, he is just careful about it these days. Anybody know, did Jay get called out by the ombudsmen, they go after Toddy boy on that? Anybody on here that’s a server or a bar tender, watch out for this mooch and his buddies, report it to Matt.
Can we convince someone to run against Urdahl and will Watts take a stab at Phil again or has he had it with their games?
What’s with all these imaginary tough guy fights you dorks fantasize about in your minds between Todd Blodgett, Jay Urdahl and god knows who else? Like children. Go back to trading baseball cards.
Urdahl is greedy slime. Sells out for power, votes, money, freebie’s, whatever. This mooch has been creaming us now for near 30 years, gets his wife a $45,000 job with a thing that gets county money. Says he’s a Democrat and whore’s out for Republican cash. I do not agree with Dr. Blodgett’s politics, never voted for him. But at least Blodgett’s are straight up, they do what they do out in the open. They have never been 2 faced, like Jay is. I think Todd is kinda crazy but he seems honest, even about his drugging ect. That’s alot more then I can say for Urdahl.
Love “Not a Jay Fans” comments below. As for the others, it would be nice if Mr. Watts lived in Urdahl’s area and run against him. He would kick his greedy, shifty ass!
Either way, I hope he gives it another try. He almost beat Phil.
People want a change.
@ 11th & N. Adams, I would love to see Urdahl tick Blodgett off, and them two not be friends no more. No I do not think Todd would shoot the mooch, like you hope. But if he ever gets big time ticked at Jay, why I think Mr Blodgett could take him down in about 3 hours. I have heard from lot’s of folks that nobody knows more on all the crap Urdahl does, has done over the years then Todd Blodgett. Max Weaver says so, Don Nelson to. I bet doc’s son could give up enough stuff on Jay to make that greedy booger eating pop can snagging moocher leave town and never show his ugly face here again. Boy would I love to see that, so would alot of people.
@ kozy, Toddy Boy would not ever do that, since 1. him and Jay are friends, 2. TB runs Urdahl like a pimp runs a whore. The proof I got from my friend works up to the court house. She told me Jay was all pissed on count of Todd, this was maybe 6 months ago. Blodgett, he told Jay to put one of his buddies on the Compensation Board. The guy TB wanted on is Steve Minert, the man TB got Blimpmeyer to push the Council to give all that money to the Harley, that one. Minert is ok, but he didn’t have no connection to Jay. Now Stevie is a very conservative Republican, he don’t like Unions. Big no-no’s with Urdahl, he bitched and bitched like the devil. Well guess what. Minert is on that board now, Jay and Phil they both vote him on. Now do you see why TB won’t never take Jay down.
I am not an Urdahl fan, and I think Dougherty is about as dumb as one can be and still drive a tractor. However, I like what they did on cutting health care costs. Our county has something like $10 million in reserves, and now here’s yet another million. So why not cut our property tax rate in half? If I am not mistaken, Mr. Callanan campaigned on this proposal. If it came to a vote, the other two would have to also vote for it, because they are on the ballot next year. And if they don’t vote for it, they will lose. Given how our assessments keep going up, cutting the tax rate at least on residential property seems to be the best way to look out for us taxpayers. These supervisors need to show they are at least as concerned for taxpayers as they are about county employees and their health care. Anyone?
@ JD, yes, yes, yes, HELL, Yes, yes – I agree, YES! Pass some of this saved money back to us that pays it in! Yes, YES!
There is a multitude of excellent comments here. Those which most concern me, however, are the posts relating to the inordinate influence Mr. Urdahl is under due to his deep and long-held connection to Dr. Blodgett, and to the Blodgett family of far right Republicans. Gary Blodgett basically bought the Cerro Gordo County seat in the state Legislature, and he has basically bought Jay’s repeated elections to our Board of Supervisors. Old doc saved Phil Dougherty from certain defeat last time, and in 2014, he raised over $35,000 for Casey Callanan, who once worked for Dr. Blodgett in Des Moines, at the state Capitol. This fascist control freak has locked them all down, and they are in his deep pocket. BOS stands for Board Of Supervisors. It is not supposed to mean Blodgett’s Own Sycophants.
Urdahl is absessed with rich people, he glom’s on to them like flies to shit. Jay brags about rich people he knows, he worships money and them that has a bunch. I know because my neighbor use to work at the courthouse. Whenever Urdahl would have lunch with somebody rich like a Pappajohn or a Blodgett, he would tell everybody about it. She told me Roger Broers the supervisor that died, well Roger said Jay has a thing for Toddy boy. The mooch would find ways to bring the crack head’s name up, he would talk about him about every other day. It really weirded Broers she told me. That cut on Jay’s forehead he got at Prime & Wine, well maybe he tried something on somebody that decked him a good one, who knows.
Sick. Maybe some day Urdahl will get his rich junky buddy real drunk and then try to hit on him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would not suprise me if the spoiled Republitard pistol whip’s Jay if this ever happens. Or maybe Toddy boy would just shoot the moocher, put him down for good. If he did that, it will put us all out of our misery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O snap I laughed uncontrollably at this one.
@ Mary Beth, your right. I have always wondered why someone of Dr. Blodgett’s status could ever link up with the like’s of Jay Urdahl. I do think it comes down to Todd Blodgett. We heard he is a gun nut that likes to settle things with threats. I mean as in pulling guns on people he gets mad at. I say, the Blodgett’s shovel money to politicians around here to keep Toddy Boy out of jail. I read where Gary raised north of $35,000 for Casey Callahan last year. Doc sent out a letter to Republicans for Phil Dougherty, when he was up. The letter said don’t vote for Chris Watt, if Phil loses your tax will go up. I think to the Blodgett’s Urdahl is just a peon. He serves a purpose to them, they toss him some crumbs from their table. Crumbs he loves to take, thats Jay for you.
There is something, I bet alot of somethings in this for Jay. Our neighbor use to work with him out to UPS, Urdahl give’s new meaning to greedy. Urdahl family loves money. Jay’s dad Rodney, he went down for not filing his income tax for like 10 maybe 12 years. Did time for it to, could not even vote for Jay on count he was a felon. Mike Jay’s brother, he owes so many folks around here had to leave town. Urdahl would not of ever got in but for his rich Republitard sugar daddy Doc Blodgett. Gary should apoligize to us, he made a monster.
@ Democrat, Dr. Blodgett the Republitard bought Jay long ago, he is why Urdahl is in, yes. But I blame most of all, Gary’s druggy son Todd. They are drinking buddies, Jay and Toddy Boy, have been for years. Addicts arent even suppose to drink. If it would not of been for old Doc’s spoiled junkie son, Urdahl would of never ever got in. Dr. B, he would not even know who Jay is. I mean, except when this part time box sorter drives the truck and delivers UPS packages to the Blodgett’s. Every time this booger eater is up for a re-elect he runs to Gary for money. Big bucks to. Old Doc writes the mooch nice checks, gets his rich Republitard friends to give even more. Put the right blame where it is, starts with Toddy Boy. His wealthy daddy-O is just the condoitt.
Urdahl eats boogers because it takes gas to drive over to the community kitchen.
@ Retired county, agree with you. Urdahl is nothing but a Gary Blodgett peon, always. He is obsessed with money and all things Blodgett. Doc’s wealth, their political influence, connections in high places, the family’s status, property, etc. Jay covets every bit of it. He is a head case whose Blodgett-funded power is bad for everybody but north Iowa’s One-Percenters. How does this nose-picking mooch get away with calling himself a Democrat? What a shame old Doc’s entitled, gun-totin’,crack smoker son has made so much grief for us. We should start calling Dr. Blodgett a new name, Dr. Frankenstein, since he made a monster. These rich Republitards should stay out of our elections.
Tissues cost cash too.
Jay & Phil need to go. From what I’ve heard, Casey has his act together.
So maybe start paying attention to how “they” get Skipper to promote them. Two are up for election next year. Looks like Jay is trying to make himself look good after YEARS on the county payroll!
Being politicians, you can bet they are telling the whole truth.
Everyone knows Jay wouldn’t lie to us.
What is the rating of Kingston Health? Other employers in Iowa were left with either an insurer in receivership or a lower rated company in the Iowa Obamacare marketplace in order to get tax refunds for offering insurance to their employees. We had forgo tax refunds to obtain insurance with any decent coverage. What kind of coverage does Kingston offer? What deductibles? Are the employees satisfied with the change?
I can tell you the county union “OK’d” the change… I think the county employees have it pretty good. I was told today that one elected county official’s wife had a heart transplant that cost the county $500,000.
Thats true yes, it was Doughourty’s wife got the new heart a couple year’s ago. We all got to pay for it to. Urdahl, he proves dont need no heart to be a elected politician. Phil should look into this here, find out if this Kingston will pay to get him a brain trandsplant.
I am not a big fan of Jay Urdahl. I am sure we will not see a dime of this great savings. I am sure The County Supervisors will get another great pay increase.
However; do not bring Phil Dougherty wife into this. Phil went through a lot quite a few years back. I am very thankful and the rest of Phils family is thankful that his wife receive this transplant. Phil and his family are very fortunate his wife received this transplant.
Also Phil has done a lot of for Cerro Gordo County. Phil is a very honest person. He is also very polite. Jay Urdahl is not polite. Never has been.
I am glad Phil wife is still alive and well. That is very rude to say his family receive a life saving operation on our tax dollars. He filed a insurance claim and paid the deductible just like everybody else does. He is a county supervisor and this insurance is part of his wages. Let him use it. At least Phil does not request another $700 to $900 at the end of each year for expenses like Jay does. A very rude statement.
Well said Kyle.
The Dougherty’s have had more than their share of tragedy in their lives.
They had 3 children, two boys & a girl. They lost both of their sons, one at age 9 to cancer & another at age 17 to a car accident.
To make such comments on Mrs Dougherty’s heart transplant is reprehensible.
The Dougherty’s are good people & don’t even compare Phil to the likes of Urdahl.
mostly just trying to justify a 50.000 part time job.
The board of adjustment sets their wages…. They don’t. If they veto their wage increase, all wages get vetoed. Phil and his wife have gone through hell…leave her out of it.
With all due respect Mr. Harley, You should look at the Compensation Board a little closer. That Board are all in Jay,s pocket. Tom Jolas is friends and lunch buddies with Jay. LaPointe is Jay’s Chairman, John Stone is Chair of the party that Jay belongs to, etc. And they can pass wage increases for the County employee’s and still decline their own increase. A fact that Skipper has not written about. Make you wonder why? Because Skipper is in bed with them also. Did you notice the article he wrote about the Health savings this past week? Who did he feature? Little Ole Jay. BUT Phil is the Chairman. And besides that, Tom D. is the one who deserves the pat on the back. Make the same calls I did.