Village officials await results of mediation in hopes of settling lawsuits
KALKASKA – Officials with the Village of Kalkaska will probably again go behind closed doors to discuss the status of a nearly four-year-old legal battle with a handful of former and current employees over health insurance benefits at the next village council meeting on Monday, March 26.
The village and plaintiffs, which include retired former village manager/police chief Melvin Hill and retired employee William Ramsey and current employee Helen Chew-Artress, were slated to meet in mediation on Thursday, March 15, in hopes of finding a settlement to the lawsuits.
Village manager Scott Yost said he could not comment on the mediation hearing.
“I wish I could,” Yost said. “But, of course, at this point I can’t share anything beyond that the council will enter closed session to discuss the matter on March 26.”
The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
While wanting to just end the lawsuits, Yost added that doing so would also help officials to put the finishing touches on the village’s 2018/19 budget. A financial plan was approved prior to the March 1 deadline, although council members admitted at the time the lawsuits were a key variable and that the budget would need to be amended.
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