Ken Hunt was fired Tuesday afternoon as human resources director for the City of Iola.
The execution was made single-handedly by Mayor Bill Shirley, though no doubt he was heavily influenced by councilmen Ken Rowe and Kendall Callahan, who have made no bones about their suspicions Hunt has mismanaged, specifically, the city’s health insurance program.
At Monday night’s city council meeting Callahan presented figures showing the city for the last eight years had been what he considered generous to a fault with its health insurance benefits.
Shirley must have interpreted that policy — adopted by three city commissions over the last eight years — as improper. With no time to waste, Shirley used his authority to fire Hunt.
May we note that Mr. Shirley served on the city commission from 2003 to 2011.
FOR THOSE who know Mr. Hunt, he is a stickler for detail.
As leader of the city’s benefits task force, Hunt and 10 other city employees representing various departments have met faithfully each month to discuss the city’s benefits program.
Had Mayor Shirley looked behind the smokescreen of Callahan’s report, he would have discovered why city commissions have favored the lower premiums.
Higher premiums are cost-prohibitive for low-level employees earning $9-$10 an hour.
Just look to the county for proof. Family coverage cost $1,114.48 a month through Allen County’s self-insurance plan. To date, no county employee takes advantage of the county’s family policy.
Too exclusive a club.
Typically, low-level employees are young and with families. The kind of people you want on your work force.
The kind of people you want to take care of.
Of the city’s 100-plus employees, less than a handful have four-year college degrees. Most of the city’s work doesn’t require an advanced degree.
If they find a good job, they’re likely to stay. Somewhat like a good union job.
So these very good employees remain faithful to the city because they are given a “break” with their health insurance plus get the benefits of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
