Polk commissioners are seeking state approval to conduct soil, erosion and sedimentation control ordinance enforcement.
Commissioners last week set a public hearing for March 1 at 7 p.m. to consider a resolution that asks for the state to allow Polk to do its own enforcement. The state will discuss Polks resolution in May.
There is one hitch.
The county does not wish to take over enforcement at existing sites for which the state has already received land disturbance permits and monitoring fees. Polk officials say it will be too expensive to monitor those sites. The state, however, has indicated it wants counties that do their own enforcement to take on existing state sites.
Polk County approved its own soil, erosion and sedimentation ordinance last year and must gain the states approval prior to beginning enforcement. Polk officials say they have asked Henderson County to handle Polks enforcement under contract, but Henderson County has not yet responded to the request.
If Henderson County will enforce Polks ordinance, the change will not impact Polk Countys budget. However, county officials indicated Monday that if the county has to enforce the ordinance next year and hire staff to do so, the change may be put off another year.
Polks ordinance sets $400 in fees per acre of disturbed land, and $10 for very small sites.