The Lee County Board of Supervisors has added “No Tobacco” language to its personnel policy.
The new section prohibits employees from using any product with tobacco in a Lee County facility or vehicle. The ban only applies to county employees.
There is one exception: if an employee is using a tobacco cessation device.
Supervisor Gary Folluo voted against the new language.
He wanted County Attorney Mike Short to review it to make sure tobacco use would not become a hiring barrier.
Folluo’s request was rejected by fellow supervisors Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Larry Kruse and Ernie Schiller.
It is still being determined whether the tobacco ban will extend to property like county-supervised parks and lakes.
Repeat violations could result in termination, per the current personnel policy. Enforcement will be handled by department heads and elected leaders.