This is an issue that we are very concerned about. We have approximately 340 of our employees laid off at this time. As a laid-off employee who is receiving unemployment benefits and looking for another job, the last thing they need is rising insurance bills.

Various options are available to employees. There are 2,100 (ISU) members and the package is being mailed to all of them. We're urging all our members to read the information very carefully.

We are pleased that our employees accepted this region-leading contract. We believe that our engineers are the best compensated in Wichita. This contract puts us in a position to work with our engineers and other employees in building a competitive business in Wichita.

The organization is shocked and saddened. Cindy is a very popular county manager with the employees.

It's our feeling that we already offer a broad range of good opportunities for savings for our employees.

We want to recognize the importance of our employees.