Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Administrator Randy Russell, left, and Solicitor Donald Tennant gather their thoughts prior to the start of the county commission meeting Tuesday night.

WHEELING – Employees working for Ohio County are getting a new health insurance provider with stable monthly premiums but slightly higher deductibles.

Commissioners approved the proposal during their meeting Tuesday night.

Administrator Randy Russell said the new provider will be UnitedHealthcare, which will succeed Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in that role.

While there won’t be an increase in monthly premium costs for employees, they may see an increase in the deductibles they pay, he explained. The deductible for an individual insurance plan will be $1,000; for a two-person plan, $2,000; and for a family plan, $3,000.

Employees will need to submit their insurance information applications before May 27. Also included in the packet will be a request to update beneficiary information if necessary.

In other matters before the commission on Tuesday, commissioners approved a three-year server maintenance agreement with Software Systems for the County Sheriff’s Department Tax Office.

The current contract expires May 31, and a three-year renewal was quoted at $14,858.

The three-year contract will take the older server to the end of its life, Russell told commissioners.

Commission President Zack Abraham asked if there had been any discussion about purchasing a newer server.

“That is the system the state uses, and we have to use it to communicate with the State Tax Office,” Russell said.

Commissioners also approved a fee proposal with Chapman Technical Group to rehabilitate Runway 32/14 at the Ohio County Airport. The proposal is for $184,050.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is funding the work, requires that an independent third party first put forth a fee proposal. If there is a large difference between the two proposals, the county will go back to Chapman and negotiate, he said.

The runway rehabilitation is part of an overall project at the airport by Chapman that is expected to cost about $1 million, according to Russell.

The commission is next set to meet at 8 a.m. June 2 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.