In the wake of a contentious debate over city employee health insurance premiums, Bowling Green commissioners are due Tuesday night to consider renewing a contract for employees’ dental insurance.

The proposed deal with Health Resources includes a 7 percent premium increase over last year.

Single employees’ monthly premiums of $26.04 will still be paid by the city, while employees will pay premiums for higher levels of coverage: $28.32 for employee and spouse coverage, $29.94 for employee and children, and $64 for family coverage, according to a memo from city Human Resources Director Michele Tolbert.

The city also plans to renew its employee vision insurance, with single employee coverage of $6.81 a month paid by the city, and employees paying $6.55 for themselves and one other person, or family coverage for $14.10; and the $20,000 employee life insurance plan; but since both of those items will cost the city less than $25,000 a year, commissioners don’t have to approve them, according to Tolbert.

Budget surplus

At a 4 p.m. Tuesday work session, commissioners will discuss spending part of their budget surplus on extending Shive Lane and accelerating the construction of a new Greenwood fire station by one year.

Even with beefing up the city’s reserve fund for bond-rating purposes, the city expects to have about $9 million on hand at the June 30 end of this fiscal year, between increased occupational tax revenue and unallocated money from previous years, city Chief Financial Officer Jeff Meisel has said. There have already been proposals to cut tax rates for coming years.

The Shive Lane project will widen the existing road from two to five lanes, with a sidewalk, and build a new, five-lane road from the Middle Bridge Road intersection to Lovers Lane at Searcy Way.

An architectural firm – Gresham, Smith and Partners of Louisville – was hired in February to design the 3,500-foot extension of Shive Lane from the north end of the new Ken Bale Boulevard to Lovers Lane.

Current plans call for a new fire station to be in operation on the far side of Interstate 65 from downtown by 2010, to keep pace with expected rapid development in the Greenwood area.

City auditor

As part of an ongoing effort to tighten city financial controls, Deborah Ann Jenkins is being recommended for the newly created position of internal city auditor.

She would report to City Manager Kevin DeFebbo. He recommended the job’s creation as part of an overall look at security after former Chief Financial Officer Davis Cooper confessed in 2005 to embezzling millions from the city over 20 years.

There were 31 applicants for the job, according to a memo from DeFebbo. According to Jenkins’ resume, she has a 2005 bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Kentucky University and is now a legislative auditor for the state of Tennessee.

Janitorial contract

Commissioners are expected to consider a $183,672.72 contract for janitorial service with J & F Janitorial Services of Somerset. The city sent out nine bid packets, but only got one bid back, according to a memo from Jackie Edwards, facilities maintenance supervisor.

&#8220This contract covers janitorial services for city hall, police headquarters, public works administration, city hall annex, public works operations and fleet divisions, legal department, Church Street precinct and Parks & Recreation Community Center buildings,” Edwards wrote. &#8220The contract is for one year with the option to renew for three additional years.”

– The regular city commission meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall.