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Blue Ridge council approves 3% COLA, adds positions, awards utility contract and approves personnel moves
Summary
Council adopted a budget amendment granting a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for permanent employees, added two staff positions, awarded an open-ended tap-service contract to Holloway Trenching LLC, and approved post-executive-session personnel status changes and a short-term CPA contract for audit review.
The Blue Ridge City Council approved a bundle of administrative and operational actions including a budget amendment that grants a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for permanent employees hired before Jan. 1, 2026, effective Feb. 27; the amendment also added an assistant-to-the-mayor position and a part-time records custodian position.
During action item 7A, the mayor entertained a motion to approve the budget amendment; the motion was seconded and council carried it by voice/raise of hands. “This is a budget amendment to provide that all permanent employees hired before January 1st, 2026 shall be granted a cost of living cola increase adjustment of 3% effective February 27th,” staff stated during the presentation.
Council also voted to award the biennial tap-service installation contract for CNS project B7970.008 to Holloway Trenching LLC. Council members clarified that the contract is open-ended and request-based (no minimum spend), and that individual jobs will be requested and authorized as needed.
In reports and public comment, the council heard department updates and community feedback: planning staff reviewed multiple development files and permit statuses; water and sewer staff announced a new 'myGovHub' online/text payment option and reported completing 326 work orders year-to-date.
After a closed executive session to discuss personnel, council approved moving Kelsey Leford and Lisa Hall to full-time status and approved a short-term consulting contract with Tammy Galvas, CPA, to review FY2024 and FY2025 audit standings and advise on next steps. These personnel and contracting motions were seconded and approved by vote.
The council adjourned with no further action.
