Herbert was unavailable for comment as of press time to clarify why the Turner Shoals Dam is classified as high hazard.

Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal from AECOM, which includes a visual inspection of the dam, as well as an underwater inspection. Odom said an underwater inspection has not been done since 2006 when he became involved with the project.

The scope of services submitted by AECOM, which completed the past two inspections of Polk County’s dam, includes the collection and review of project documents, to perform a dam safety inspection, to prepare and submit a draft and final safety inspection report and to perform an underwater dive inspection of the upstream and downstream concrete structures.

Odom said the inspection should be completed in the next three months.

The county also approved a budget amendment to pay for the inspection, transferring $32,290 from the county’s reserve for dam repair to the water operating fund.

Polk has reserved money annually for future repairs of the dam and as of the current budget year had $675,000 reserved. The appropriation of $32,290 leaves $642,910 in the account, according to the Polk County Finance Office.