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Barbour County Commission approves redistribution of highway superintendent salary after heated debate
Summary
After several motions and a failed roll call, the Barbour County Commission approved eliminating an Assistant Road Superintendent position and reallocating that salary to full-time, noncontract road employees, with a targeted pay increase for several staff. The final motion passed 5–2.
Commissioner Jason Bennett moved and, after debate and a sequence of rescinded motions, the Barbour County Commission approved the County Engineer’s request to eliminate the Assistant Road Superintendent position and redistribute that pay to full-time noncontract road department employees, including targeted raises for some staff.
The discussion began when County Engineer Turner Lee asked the commission to delete the Assistant Road Superintendent post and use the salary to increase pay across the road crew, and to give seven employees who missed a 2023 increase a 10% raise. Commissioners traded several motions: an initial motion to eliminate the position while increasing 11 entry-level positions by $1.64 failed on roll call; subsequent motions were made and rescinded before the final successful motion to approve the engineer’s request as presented.
The decisive roll call on the final motion was: Commissioner Rachel Smith — No; Commissioner Jason Bennett — Yes; Commissioner Frances Shipman — No; Commissioner Eric Pomeroy — Yes; Chairman Jerry McGilvray — Yes; Commissioner Karen Collins — Yes; Commissioner Stan Adams — Yes. The final tally was five in favor, two opposed.
The commission’s minutes show commissioners raised questions about which employees would be eligible and whether managerial or contract employees would be excluded; those eligibility clarifications were part of the motion language debated on the floor. The commission did not record additional technical salary amounts in the minutes beyond the distribution intent and the specific $1.64 figure mentioned in an unsuccessful motion.
The action resolves a personnel reorganization in the Highway Department by eliminating a supervisory position and reallocating funds to line staff pay, with implementation to be carried out under the county engineer and relevant personnel rules.
