POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County commissioners created a committee to evaluate insurance options at their meeting on October 19. Chairman Ed Crawford and Port employee Tina Keller are the committee members. They will compare rates from Washington County Insurance Fund and Public Employees Benefit Board and apply to the one they select.

The need to change insurance was prompted by Garfield County’s insurance change. The Port had been under the County’s ‘umbrella’, but the change in insurance providers caused the Port to need to find its own plan.

Port Manager Diana Ruchert received one bid for the Pataha fiber project designing but the bid was based on the price per foot and difficult to understand, so Manager Ruchert is trying to get a flat fee from the company. Otherwise the Port will need to go back out for bid.

The vaccine compliance issue at the Forest Service building is still in limbo because the mandate requires all employees of a company that is doing business in the building be vaccinated, not just those who are entering. The Port is taking steps to ensure that it is compliant, but several companies who are doing renovations and cleaning the building are not. The Forest Service’s continued use of the building is in question if compliance cannot be met.