Increased health care costs are creating a burden for the Borough of Tamaqua, partially due to contractual obligations with the borough's union workers. The issue of increased health care co-payments was discussed at Tuesday night's council meeting.

The borough was notified of the changes by its health care insurance provider.Office visits have gone from $10 to $30; specialist visits from $20 to $65, emergency room visits from $50 to $200, and urgent care from $25 to $100. The borough is two years into a four-year contract with the UAW, and the increase was unexpected. Also up in the air is how much the increase could be next year.Councilman Brian Connely said paying workers the difference in the co-payment amount will still be cheaper for the borough than shopping around for a new policy, at least for this year.Council President Micah Gursky expects the process to be "cumbersome." Employees will need to pay the co-payments upfront and then submit the receipt to the borough for reimbursement. Checks will be dispersed once monthly, when the monthly bills are approved by council and paid."It could be a lot, it could be a little, we just don't know," Gursky said.Connely said the health care market is in flux and the borough will review plan options for next year when they become available in October.In other business, council discussed residents who are leaving cans or chairs in parking spaces to "claim ownership" of a shoveled-out spot.This practice is not legal, and Mayor Christian Morrison said that in fact, it amounts to dumping rubbish in the street. Police have been removing the items and will continue to do so.Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt reminded council that the borough's garbage hauling contract will be expiring in June. The borough approved a three-year contract in 2011 and opted to extend the contract with Tamaqua Transfer for one year. Steigerwalt said the borough has that option again this year.Council also:• Approved certificate of appropriateness for an exterior staircase at 626 Arlington St.• Received a repository sale bid for a property at 160 W. Spruce St. Council will review the prospective owner.• Appointed Christine Zizelmann, an RN with over 30 years of experience, to the Board of Health.• Approved a request from the Preceptor Alpha Upsilon Sorority chapter to hold their annual Easter egg hunt at the Bungalow Park, beginning at noon March 28.• Approved a request from C. Dina Depos and the Tamaqua Salvation Army to hold the second annual Kids Karnival event in conjunction with National Night Out (Aug. 4) from 2 to 8 p.m.• Approved the use of the Bungalow Park pavilion and waived the fee for the Girl Scouts of Tamaqua and Panther Valley for their annual day camp on July 25.