(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council Wednesday evening approved renewal of the city employee health insurance plan with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, which calls for an about 17 1`/2 rate increase.

Blue Cross representative Tami Norris was present at the meeting to answer questions.

Norris said the city is still on a grandfathered plan.

The city employee dental plan was also renewed.

In other business, the Council approved the low bid submitted by Goodman Brothers, of Sabetha, for this year's curb and gutter work. The bid was for a total of $69,015. The Council directed City Superintendent Brian Ruske to add to the list of work to be done to increase the total to the budgeted amount of $80,000.

The Council approved the hiring of a third summer maintenance worker. Deryk Rosenberger will be paid $12 an hour.

The Council approved the appointment of Luke Sunderland as city attorney and a contract for his services. The contract is the same as the city had with former City Attorney Martin Mishler.

Mayor Joe Mitchell announced that City Clerk Michelle Spring has achieved her certified municipal clerk status. As a result, the Council approved a $1 an hour pay raise for Spring per the city's personnel policy, which is retro-active to May 29th.

The Council also approved two street closure requests. One was from the Sts. Peter and Paul Church for the Father Arul Memorial 5K Run/Walk on August 16th. The other was from Community National Bank for their “ Bring Your Kids to Work Day” on July 8th.