BAXTER — Health insurance premium costs are going up in Baxter.

The city of Baxter joined the National Joint Powers Alliance cooperative in 2002 as a way to get lower health insurance premiums and pool its health insurance risk.

Council members renewed its current plan Tuesday. Health insurance premiums are going up 5.6 percent for family coverage and 5.7 percent for single coverage compared to 2012 rates.

The city reported its 2013 rates are based on a combination of the city’s use and an “insurance underwriting medical trend inflation factor of 8 percent.”

For 2013, single premiums went up to $494.98 from $468.08 while family premiums went up to $1,689.50 compared to $1,600.32 last year.

Baxter’s council meeting may have set a record for brevity. It lasted about six minutes, but did come after a 90-minute work session to discuss the complexities of extending Isle Drive.

After the council adjourned only minutes after opening the regular council meeting, Mayor Darrel Olson told the students in the audience: “You came to the right meeting.”

In other business, the city:

Set a public hearing for the certification of delinquent utility bills and nuisance abatements for 7:05 p.m. Nov. 14.

Approved a new lease agreement with Cingular Wireless (AT&T) to takes three existing antennas off the north water tower and install six new ones, paying an additional lease rate tot he city. A similar agreement was approved for Northern PCS Services to remove three existing antennas from the water tower and install nine new ones.

Approved the Berrywood Apartments phase three development agreement.

Adjourned to the next council session at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 for a budget work session.

RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz.