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Claiborne County board approves hires and pay increases as it moves to reopen fire stations
Summary
The Claiborne County Board of Supervisors approved a new firefighter hire, department-wide raises and a plan to reopen the Hermanville fire station, while several supervisors warned the board needs to identify funding sources before adding recurring payroll costs.
President Jones and the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors approved multiple personnel actions for the county fire department at their Feb. 2 meeting, including hiring a new firefighter and a package of pay increases that county staff estimate will increase annual personnel costs by roughly $283,201.
Chief Shaffer asked the board to hire a tier-1 firefighter at an annual salary of $29,500, pending a drug test and background check, with a proposed start date of Feb. 9, 2026; the board approved the hire. Shaffer also proposed merit increases — $1,700 for each captain/shift supervisor and $1,500 for each firefighter — plus a $2,000 increase for an acting captain. "The total cost to the county would be approximately $283,201," Shaffer said in his presentation.
The Chief said Hermanville and the central station would require staff of three shifts (six employees per station) to maintain 24-hour coverage; he gave salary examples of $40,000 for captains and $34,000 for firefighters. Board discussion focused on where recurring funding would come from and whether the county has sufficient staff to recruit and retain the needed employees. One supervisor asked specifically, "Where were we going to retrieve this $300,000 per year out of the budget?" and said the board should ensure line items exist before committing to recurring payroll.
Despite questions about budget readiness and staffing, supervisors voted to approve the hiring and the pay increases. Supporters argued reopening stations is a public-safety priority: "It is of great importance to our citizens to ensure that their houses, property and lives are safe," one supervisor said.
Chief Shaffer and other staff were asked to provide follow-up information on precise budget line items and staffing plans to ensure the county can sustain the increases. The board also asked staff to confirm that facilities serving as voting precincts will be prepared for the March 10 election if the stations are used as polling places.
Next steps: staff will return with budget detail and staffing plans. The board moved on to other business and later recessed into closed session for executive items.
