Keith Huck, a Perry County Councilman, will no longer have health insurance coverage following a decision by the State Court of Appeals. In January 2024, the County Commissioners voted to remove all part-time employees from the county insurance plan. Huck filed an injunction in 2023 to challenge this decision, arguing that his role as a councilman required full-time dedication despite the commissioners stating that it only required nine hours of work per month.
A trial court initially sided with Huck and restored his health benefits. However, Perry County officials appealed this ruling, resulting in the original decision being reinstated. This development means that Huck will now have to find alternative health insurance coverage for himself. The decision by the State Court of Appeals highlights the ongoing debate over the responsibilities and benefits granted to part-time employees within the county government.
The removal of part-time employees from the county insurance plan was a controversial decision made by the County Commissioners. Several other council members also filed an injunction challenging this decision, but their cases were dismissed due to lack of evidence. The trial court had ruled in favor of Huck and several other council members who argued that their roles required full-time dedication.
However, Perry County officials appealed this ruling, stating that part-time employees should not receive health insurance coverage as they are not considered full-time employees. The State Court of Appeals agreed with this argument and reversed the trial court’s ruling.
This decision has sparked debate among county officials and residents about whether part-time employees should be entitled to health insurance coverage or not. Some argue that part-time employees should receive coverage as they perform important duties for the county, while others say that they do not need coverage since they are only working a few hours per week.
In conclusion, Keith Huck’s case is just one example of how the ongoing debate over part-time employee rights continues to impact local governments across the country. As more councils and commissioners grapple with budget constraints and staffing shortages, it is likely that this debate will continue well into the future.