City of Great Bend employees will see no increase in their Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance premiums in 2014, the City Council decided Monday night.
 The cost share will remain the same, City Administrator Howard Partington said. At budget time, it was projected the contributions would remain unchanged for the upcoming year.
Partington said the split will be 83-17, with the city covering 83 percent and employees 17 percent. 
The total monthly premium for an individual will be $355.36 and for a family it will be  $1,100.97. The cost for an individual would be $60.40 per month with the city paying $294.96, and for a family, it would be $187.16 with the city paying $913.81.
BCBS estimated that rates might increase a little less than 4 percent for 2014 and that was not enough to force a premium hike. That is mostly due to an increase in stop-loss coverage for claims over $60,000, the point at which the city’s health insurance quits paying and the city’s umbrella policy takes over.
“This was a rough year,” Partington said. There was one such claim in 2011-2012 and there have been three so far this year.
None the less, he said, the city’s reserve account balance has continued to grow. Despite the number of claims, the account rose 17 percent.
According to Partington, the plan is considered a “grandfathered” plan under the Affordable Care Act. But, the ACA is very confusing.
City officials are staying in close contact with BCBS which is keeping up to date as more information about the health care law becomes available.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a request from Tina Mingenback to close streets for the Holiday Parade and related activities on Nov. 30. Closed will be Lakin Avenue from Kansas Avenue to Main Street from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Main Street from Lakin Avenue to Broadway Avenue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on that date.
Petitions supporting the closing of Lakin Avenue and Main Street were presented.
• Approved an abatement request at 208 Fruit St., owned by Ismael and Amalia Campos, for accumulation of refuse.
• Heard an economic development report from Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters. She said the developer of one project nearing completion praised City Inspector Lee Schneider and City Engineer Rob Winiecke for their cooperation.
• Heard an update on city departmental activities from Partington.