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COLUMBUS—At the Polk County Board of Commissioners held Tuesday, September 3, commissioners recognized a retiring county employee, heard multiple proclamations for the month of September, and addressed an ownership transfer of Wolverine Trail to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 

This meeting opened with a recognition of retiring Polk County EMS employee Ben Warren by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. Jeff Powell, the NCOEMS regional manager, presented this official recognition of Ben Warren’s distinguished career of more than thirty years in service to Polk County. 

A plaque was presented to Warren by County Manager Marche Pittman, noting that Warren’s “leadership, integrity, and tireless efforts have earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues, as well as the gratitude of the citizens of Polk County embodying the highest levels of public service.” 

Warren expressed his gratitude and appreciation upon his recognition, saying he was “looking forward to having time to spend with the grandkids.”

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working for Polk County for 30 years,” Warren said.

Next, the board approved a proclamation from Joyce B. Preston, President of Polk County Memorial Auxiliary VFW Post #9116, who spoke on Military Suicide and Mental Health Awareness. 

“All the trauma that our military people go through, we aren’t aware of this a lot of times” said Chairman Myron Yoder. “I just want to thank everybody in this room, who has to deal with that. Thank you very much for your service.”

Secretary Polk County Memorial Auxiliary to VFW Post #9116 Ethel Collins then spoke on prisoners of war and those missing in action, and the board proclaimed September as “Prisoners of War/M.I.A Month.”

Polk County also heard from Commander Mike Collins, who spoke in solemn reflection on the tragedy of September 11, 2001. The board officially recognized the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attack as a day of remembrance. Lastly, Gina Cashion from the Veterans Services Office discussed the current state of Polk County’s Veteran Services. 

The last proclamation of the evening came from Bobby Arledge, Emergency Management Director, who addressed September’s designation as North Carolina’s Emergency Preparedness Month. Arledge spoke on the importance of preparing for both weather-related and man-made disasters, utilizing September as a month to check all emergency supplies and equipment before the arrival of any inclement winter weather. 

The final agenda item was an update on the long-pursued North Carolina Department of Transportation agreement to assume responsibility for Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring near Polk County Middle School, presented by Manager Pittman. This project has been close to ten years in the making and would see the ownership of this road and the responsibility of maintenance transferred to the state. 

The board unanimously approved the agreement. 

Under this impending finalization, an additional $75,000 in budget amendment was approved to bring the road up to NCDOT standards.