City employees will get new health insurance but one council member said it will end up costing employees more.

On a 3-2 vote council opted to go with First Carolina Care and to pursue 80-20 coverage. Council members Carl Ferebee and Ed Liverman voted against the proposal and Liverman said it would cost employees more.

City Manager Paul Sabiston wrote in a memo to council the rate was the lowest of all applicants and beat the present premium by $357,266 for premiums including employee matches. He noted it also beat the present year premium cost to the city by $157,243. “Compared to other applicants, it was the lowest cost to the city by $92,673 and the lowest cost to city-employees — including employee matches — by a staggering $320,208 at the submitted rates.”

Sabiston also requested permission to negotiate with the company to eliminate the $17 per month employee contribution that exists in the present premium.

Phil Hux, who owns First Carolina Agency, which provides Blue Cross and Blue Shield Insurance, asked for permission to speak. He clarified the company Sabiston recommended had nothing to do with his company.

As Hux discussed the advantages his company could offer, he asked if any First Carolina Care representatives were at the meeting.

Sabiston said Hux’s comments were out of line and Hux ended his discussion.

By a 4-1 vote, with Liverman voting against, the city also approved Argonaut as its property and liability provider and Key Risk as its workers compensation provider.

In another matter tonight council approved changes to its nuisance ordinance.

Many of the regulations in the ordinance date to 1970s and many things have changed like dilapidated fences devaluing property and the way people stack lumber.

Many of the changes were sparked by Opportunity Clean Sweep.

While there are no significant changes, the document tries to make things more clear, Planning and Development Director Amanda Jarratt has said. One of the changes addresses outbuildings 144 square feet or smaller, which before the city had to go through the minimum housing process to have them demolished. These buildings are covered in the nuisance ordinance.