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Highlands Today

Council Approves Employee Assistance Program

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: February 20, 2009

SEBRING - After listening to a presentation by Kathryn Doddridge, director of business development Daybreak Behavioral Health with Florida Hospital Heartland Division, Sebring City Council members decided that their employees would benefit from a counseling assistance program.

Councilman Scott Stanley voted no and Councilman John Clark abstained from voting because his wife works for Florida Hospital.

The plan calls for counseling for stress, marital or relationship issues, family or parenting issues, anxiety, depression, elder care issues, childcare issues, grief or bereavement counseling, substance abuse or other personal problems.

Under the agreement, the city's 160 eligible employees and their eligible dependants could receive up to three one-hour counseling sessions per problem per year at an overall cost of $1.50 per employee per month, equaling $240 per month or $2,880 per year.

Councilman Stanley questioned if a person could solve a problem in three one-hour sessions.

Doddridge said many problems could at least be addressed, and if necessary, referred to an insurance provider or higher level of care within that time.

Councilman Bud Whitlock thought it was a minimal charge. Councilwoman Margie Rhoades thought it was money well spent.

Surplus Items

Council agreed to a list of surplus items from the city of Sebring Fire Rescue and its public works department to be sold through Govdeals.com, Insight Auctioneers or by any means necessary.

Items include desks, lamps, filing cabinets, computer equipment, and heavier items such as a John Deere back hoe, a Clark forklift, lawn equipment, a golf cart and a Robin RGD 5000 generator.

CRA Vacancy Filled

By a 3-2 vote, council members voted to appoint Christopher Benson to replace the vacated seat of Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioner Jim Rimer.

Benson, a Sebring resident, who works as a land acquisition manager for Highlands County's Engineering Department, was picked from a field of six candidates. His term will run until Sept. 30, 2011.

Rezoning

Council unanimously voted to approve a request by resident Billy Wilkerson to rezone a lot at 623 Lemon St. Wilkerson wished to add on to his own house but could not because the lot was zoned C-1 commercial and was not consistent with single-family housing.

City staff recommended council approve the rezoning on first reading and a second reading was scheduled for March 3. The new mixed use zoning would be designated as MUQD.

Landmark Sewer

The Landmark Sewer deal inched slightly ahead when council members voted 4-0 to extend the city's inspection date to April 17. Councilman John Clark abstained as the owner of Landmark is on his client list.

The city is seeking support from the county to the tune of $200,000 to help pay for upgrades to the Thunderbird Hills Wastewater Treatment Plant system and demolition costs for removing a package plant from the property.

The city also sought the county's cooperation in relinquishing its lawsuit with the Department Environmental Protection and filing a new lawsuit asking the city be appointed as receiver to the system.

It is also requesting the Department of Community Affairs relinquish its jurisdiction over a lawsuit in the lower court.

The city intended to connect the Landmark system in Thunderbird Hills with its Highlands Utilities sewage system. City Attorney Swain and Harris sent a letter on Feb. 17 to county Administrator Michael Wright asking to be added to its March 3 agenda.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at 863-386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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