Resolution to change from four-day, 10-hour schedule tabled after opposition
BY MICHELLE KEY AND HANNAH GOLDFINGER
LEE COUNTY — During the regular meeting Monday night, the Lee County Commission discussed and heard from citizens regarding a change of operation hours for the county’s Highway Department.
District 1 Commissioner Doug Canon presented a resolution Monday night that would change the hours for some county employees in the highway department from a four-day a week, 10 hours a day work schedule to a five-day, eight-hour work week schedule. This would not effect road crews and their direct supervisors, Canon said.
Additionally, on holiday weeks, road crews and supervisors would also work eight-hour shifts.
Many members of the highway department showed up Monday night to express displeasure with the resolution.
Before hearing from the citizens and employees, the commissioners discussed the resolution among themselves.
Part of the reason the resolution was presented, Canon said, is so that there could be representation in the office on Fridays. He also said that he has heard from other county employees that they are displeased with working five-day work weeks. This resolution would have most employees on a similar schedule.
The resolution would go into effect on May 5.
Canon said he got these hours based off Baldwin County. District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris said that he felt putting some employees on one schedule and some on another in the Highway Department would case issues.
One Highway Department employee, Dale Luck, a supervisor, said he did not agree with the resolution and agreed with Morris that the schedule would cause issues.
“I think the way we work now, we work very good together, and my question is, if we do that schedule, how can we communicate with our office?” he said, referring to being on different schedules.
Luck then asked the commissioners to come meet with employees before voting to learn more.
Kendall Andrews, who has worked with the Highway Department for almost a decade, said he chose to work at the county due to the work-life balance of having a four-day work week.
“If the problem is being equitable with other county departments, I think the solution would be to try and find a schedule with the work-life balance that the highway department has, because it seems that’s what these departments are wanting,” he said. “Try to find something … similar to that that would afford these other departments that work-life balance that they’re after. Maybe a swing shift or something like that could work for these other departments. I don’t think the answer to the equitable argument is to punish this group.”
Andrews said that this solution would not change the schedule for other departments and fix their issues.
Assistant County Engineer Patrick Harvill said that changing the schedule would also take away one of the benefits he offers to recruit the best employees for the county.
“The way I see it, we function as a team, it’s ideal that we all work the same hours — that gives us the best unity and best ability to function,” he said. “In my opinion, you have the best work schedule for the Highway Department with the four 10-hour days.”
Both District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris and District 5 Commissioner Richard LaGrand asked to table the vote to talk more with the highway department. Canon agreed. The commissioners also discussed times to visit the Highway Department.
“I think we owe it to them,” Morris said. “Not only are they employees, they’re also, most of them, are citizens.”
The vote passed to table the resolution.
Other Business:
- The commission recognized student-athlete accomplishments from Beauregard and Smiths Station High Schools during 2025 wrestling season.
- Chief Administrative Officer of Lee County Holly Leverette provided an update from the 2025 NACo Legislative Conference.
- Johnny Forbus, a driver license supervisor at Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, provided an update to the commission on the STAR ID program. Effective May 7, 2025, every air traveler will need a REAL ID compliant license/ID (STAR ID) or another form of identification for domestic air travel.
- The commission voted to approve the proposed Dirt Road Paving Policy as presented by Lee County Engineer Justin Hardee.
- The commission provided information to a citizen regarding the paving of Lee Road 246.
- The commission approved a motion to Transfer Land Tax Redemption from the office of the Probate Judge to the office of the Revenue Commissioner.
- The commission approved a resolution to amend Local Act 90-195 to give the commission more authority over paved roads in the county.
- The commission approved a motion to grade the football field at Beauregard High School.
- The commission approved a special events alcohol license for two events on March 21 and March 29 for Greenawalt Hospitality as presented by Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.
- The commission approved a special events alcohol license for four events to be held on March 22, March 28, April 4 and April 11 for Premium Pours as presented by Jones.
- The commission approved a resolution in the support of a Local Act that would allow the electronic filing for the business personal property tax by Revenue Commissioner Oline Price.
- The commission approved an ad valorem tax abatement for Clear Springs, LLC. The 61,600 square-foot facility project is expected to be a $6.2 million dollar investment for Clear Springs LLC.
- The commission approved the Crack Sealing Bid LCP 41-PP-25 by Remac Inc. of just under $138,000 presented by the highway department.
- The commission approved the final plat approval for Truett Subdivision.