Lee County supervisors approve 3% pay increase, airport fuel terminal contract and routine payments; table health insurance decision

The Lee County Board of Supervisors on March 18 approved a 3% pay increase for full‑time county employees and a package of routine fiscal and operational items, while tabling a proposed health‑insurance contract that staff said would increase premiums by about 12% over last year.

During the meeting, the board approved minutes, a $32.59 refund to a Mr. Cooper, payment of routine county bills, and several quarterly payments and contract approvals. The board adopted a resolution to name a portion of U.S. 58 the Lloyd C. Saint Martin Memorial Highway (resolution 25‑006), approved a three‑year agreement for the airport’s unmanned fuel terminal (referred to in the packet as the “QT Pod”) with a stated $150‑per‑year increase over the prior agreement, approved a payment request for the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail billing, and authorized application for a grant that would support a $7,000 county donation to PROWART (county match described in the packet as 50% grant-funded).

The sheriff’s office requested and the board approved reallocating $10,000 from its ammunition budget to purchase new 9‑millimeter firearms with red‑dot sights; staff said existing ammunition will carry the department through the current fiscal year. County staff noted they used ARPA funds last year to buy new .40‑caliber pistols for some law‑enforcement units.

On insurance, the county administrator told the board that the packet included a notice of a 12% increase in the employee health insurance plan and asked for authority to enter into the agreement for fiscal year 2025‑26; several supervisors urged shopping for alternatives and the board voted to table that item pending further discussion.

The board voted to enter a closed session under the cited statutory reference in the meeting record before later approving the 3% raise for full‑time county employees. The closed session motion and the pay‑raise vote were made at the meeting and both carried.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes approval (Feb. 18 and Feb. 30): approved by voice vote. - Refund to Mr. Cooper ($32.59): approved by voice vote. - Payment of routine county bills (disbursements): approved by voice vote. - Table appointments to building code and tourism committee: both tabled by motion. - Health insurance contract (FY 2025‑26): item tabled after discussion of a reported 12% premium increase. - School system fourth‑quarter appropriation (FY 2024‑25): approved to enable fund distribution. - Highway naming resolution 25‑006 (Lloyd C. Saint Martin Memorial Highway): adopted by voice vote. - QT Pod airport fuel terminal agreement (3‑year term, $150/yr increase): approved; motion carried. - Southwest Virginia Regional Jail fourth‑quarter billing: approved for payment (amount in packet unclear in the transcript). - PROWART funding/grant application (county match $7,000; grant covers 50% of donation): approved to apply for grant funding. - Sheriff’s office reallocation ($10,000 from ammunition to firearms purchase): approved by motion. - Closed session under the meeting’s cited statutory reference: approved by motion. - County employee compensation increase (full‑time employees, 3% raise): approved by motion.

Several motions were carried by voice vote with no roll‑call recorded in the transcript excerpt; where vote tallies were not read into the record, the meeting minutes reflect approval by the board’s voice vote.

No substantive bond‑issuance, zoning or land‑use ordinance was adopted during the session excerpt provided.