By Leah Justice and Michael O’Hearn

Head Start to receive grant
The Polk County Board of Education heard information on a five-year grant for the Head Start program in Polk County at their meeting on Monday, June 8 at Stearn’s Education Center. The amount given to the program by the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families totals $579,841 and will be used during the 2015-2016 school year. The board is expected to approve this grant at their meeting on June 29.

Saluda to hold budget work session Monday, June 15
The City of Saluda has scheduled a budget work session for Monday, June 15 at 6 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room of the Saluda Public Library. Council has scheduled a public hearing and the adoption of the budget on June 29.

Saluda council hears of downtown noise complaint
During Saluda City Council’s June 8 meeting, commissioners and the mayor heard from Dotty Eargle who asked for relief on noise in the downtown area, particularly on weekends. Eargle said the city police indicated they can’t do anything about the noise until after 11 p.m. Eargle read the noise ordinance saying she interpreted it not just after 11 p.m. Eargle also suggested decibel machines.

Saluda resident calls town hall meeting a kangaroo court
Saluda resident Bruce Campbell spoke during council’s meeting on June 8 saying a group of resident’s May town hall meeting was not a town hall meeting because the town nor he was invited. Campbell said the meeting was more of a kangaroo court than anything. A group of about 40 residents held a meeting to discuss issues they have with the current governing body, with former city administrator Erny Williams in attendance to speak and answer questions. City commissioners or the mayor have not publicly commented on what was said at the meeting.

Saluda approves auditors
The City of Saluda hired Carter PC Accounting and Consulting for its annual audit during its Monday, June 8 meeting. Finance officer Julie Osteen said her firm was asked to send out requests for proposals from auditors and received two responses; from Carter PC at the same rate as last year’s for $15,395 and from Gould Killian Group for $16,400, $16,600 and $16,800 over the next three years.

Repairs to sinkhole in front of Saluda’s Macon Bank expected this year
Saluda Zoning Administrator Jon Cannon updated council on June 8 that the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to survey a hole in the roadway in front of Macon Bank mid-June with construction to fix the issue expected prior to the end of the year. The hole was discovered during storm water issues in the area.