Four Natchez aldermen apparently have become experts on both group health insurance plans as well as predicting the future.

The aldermen bafflingly chose to simply renew the city’s health insurance program without actually considering a single other option.

The 4-2 decision seems not only illogical, but also at least a little suspicious.

The four aldermen who voted against even considering other options are Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, Dan Dillard, Billie Joe Frazier and Felicia Irving.

When city officials suddenly seek to close off competitors, even in the face of a history of complaints and questions by city employees, something seems amiss.

It’s not only wise for city aldermen to consider any and all options for something as important as the health care coverage of city employees, it’s their jobs.

Their job isn’t to simply look over their buddy’s insurance proposal, smile and say, “Looks good to me.”

Their job is to actually understand the plan being considered, understand its costs and risks as well as its effectiveness from the standpoint of employees.

Based on the discussions at recent city meetings, it hardly seems that is the case. Instead some of the aldermen appear to be making up their minds in advance and then being snippy with one another on an important topic.

For aldermen to suggest that the plan is competitive — presumably just by comparing it to the county’s self-insured plan — without truly doing their due diligence is a dereliction of duty. We hope not only city employees but also city voters take note and remember these decisions at the next election if the poor leadership continues.