A recent proposal to limit health insurance coverage to only Chehalis city councilors, excluding their families, was voted down.

    “With 2009 revenues being down and nothing in the crystal ball forecasting a better 2010, we thought it would be a way to save money,” said Councilor Dennis Dawes about an idea he helped put forward with Councilor Rob Fuller.

    The measure, that would save just under $29,000 was voted down 4-3.

    Mayor Tony Ketchum supported the move. Councilors Terry Harris, Isaac Pope, Chad Taylor and Daryl Lund voted against the change.

    Dawes said there was a time table to get things done before the election, so the change could aid the 2009 budget. He said it wasn’t his or Fuller’s intent to rush this through as a political ploy.

    “That wasn’t the intent and never was the intent,” he said. “I thought it was something we could do to put in a potential savings for next year.”

    He said with the city “casting a wary eye” toward additional layoffs, and employees already taking furloughs, this was something councilors could do to share the burden.

    Harris said he wasn’t completely against the notion, but said he needed more time to ponder the proposal.

    “The council didn’t have time to discuss what was really going on and any other options or partial options,” he said.

    Harris and other councilors said they would like to take a look at this at future workshops and council meetings.

    Marqise Allen: (360) 807-8237