CASSOPOLIS — County employee health insurance will remain the same for now, thanks to a vote by the Cass County Board of Commissioners.

Thursday, the Cass County Board of Commissioners voted on how to comply with Public Act 152, a 2011 act that requires that local units of government to place a hard cap on their health care, institute an 80/20 cost sharing arrangement or opt out with two-thirds vote of the governing body. The issue must be voted on each year.

Currently, the county follows the 80/20 model, and was considering changing to the hard cap for the 2018/2019 fiscal year, as under most plans, certain employees would see a savings under the hard cap model, according to finical advisors with Rose Street Advisors. Rose Street Advisor Ben Cohen said moving to a hard cap would benefit 50 percent of employees, but also negatively impact the other 50 percent of employees.

The issue caused a stir at last Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting, as some Cass County employees disagreed with the idea of moving to a hard cap.

“I don’t want to put all the risk on our employees and that’s what a hard cap does,” Probate Judge Susan Dobrich said Tuesday. “It’s not going to be an effective way to recruit people, and it’s unfair to the employees.”

Ultimately, the board of commissioners decided to stick with the 80/20 plan for health insurance for 2018/2019. The board would be able to move to a hard cap for the 2019/2020 fiscal year, if they choose to.

“The Cass County Board of Commissioners have chosen to comply with publicly funded health insurance contribution act by adopting the 80/20,” said Commissioner Roseann Marchetti, as she read the resolution Thursday.

The vote was not unanimous. Commissioners Marchetti, Skip Dyes, Ann File and Clark Cobb voted in favor of the 80/20 resolution. Commissioners Terry Aursa and Robert Ziliak voted against the resolution.

Also Thursday:

• The board voted to cancel its Committee of the Whole meeting on July 31 and its regular meeting on Aug. 2, due to conflict with the Cass County Fair. Additionally, the board voted to change its regular meeting time for the Aug. 16 to 5 p.m.

• The board passed a motion to reappoint David Kring to the Cass County Planning Commission for a three-year term ending on July 1, 2021. The board also approved the appointment of Kathy Cobb to the Cass County Planning Commission. Her term will also end of July 1, 2021.