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Lee County delays vote on changing highway department's workweek after staff and citizens object
Summary
Commissioners withdrew a proposal to convert much of the highway department from a four-day, 10-hour schedule to a five-day, eight-hour schedule after employees and commissioners requested more consultation. The commission agreed to table the item and meet with highway staff before reconsidering.
The Lee County Commission on March 10 tabled a proposal to change most highway department employees from a four-day, 10-hour schedule to a five-day, eight-hour schedule following extensive public comment and internal staff objections.
Commissioner Richard Cannon originally moved to change operating hours effective in May so that highway employees (except road crews and direct supervisors) would work Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while shop personnel would work 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Road crews and supervisors would remain on their current four-day 10-hour schedule except in weeks with a county holiday, when they would work five eights. The motion drew immediate questions and objections from highway staff and commissioners.
Multiple highway department employees and supervisors told the commission they had not been consulted and said the proposed change would reduce the department's ability to respond efficiently to overnight or early-morning calls, trouble jobs and storms. Supervisors explained crews typically meet around 6 a.m. to plan daily work and said rotating or staggered schedules were already used in some other county departments.
Patrick Carville, assistant county engineer, told the commission he preferred a solution that retained the county's competitive advantage for recruiting and allowed flexibility for holidays; he supported a rotating "swing" schedule that would preserve a four-day option for employees while ensuring office coverage on Fridays. Several commissioners agreed the proposal warranted more staff input and discussion. The commission set up a follow-up meeting between commissioners and highway staff to discuss alternatives and invited any commissioners who wished to attend; a final vote was postponed.
Why it matters: Changing the highway department's schedule affects recruitment, employee work-life balance, weekend and emergency coverage, and the county's operational continuity; commissioners said they wanted to avoid unilateral changes without staff consultation.
