Jackson County Board approved going to self-insurance model for county

BLACK RIVER FALLS - The Jackson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to switch the county to a change from a fully-insured health insurance model to a self-insured health insurance model at its August meeting held on Monday at the County Government Center.

The change will take place starting Jan. 1 of next year. The funding level for this transition would be determined from the health insurance expense that was budgeted for in 2025 and the budgeted increase of 10 percent to health insurance costs, overall not increasing the 2026 annual budget.

The Board also designated the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center as Public Answering Point (PSAP) for Jackson County via unanimous vote. A PSAP becomes a one-stop entity to answer public questions and concerns in an emergency and can receive state grants to help fund its set-up.

In other agenda items, the Board voted unanimously to change 1.5 acres of the Official Zoning Map from the A1 (Agriculture) District to the R2 (Residential) District in the Town of Cleveland. They also voted unanimously to delegate authority to the County Administrative Coordinator or County Board Chair to enter into a settlement agreement, with any Opioid Defendant provided (a) the PEC and the Law Firms shall have
recommended the settlement.

The Board went into closed session to discuss a Sheriff Department Incident in the Town of Hixton. The Board came out of closed session and adjourned.