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COLUMBUS—On Tuesday, October 15, at the Polk County High School Auditorium, the six Polk County Board of Commissioners candidates participated in a Candidate Forum sponsored by Polk Rural Forever. 

The candidates in attendance were Paul Beiler (R), Ray Gasperson (D), Jennifer Hargett (R), Libby Morris (D), Karen Pack (D) and Myron Yoder (R). All candidates attended, though Jennifer Hargett left after the first half of the forum to deal with a family emergency. 

Conserving Carolina, Polk County Farm Bureau, and Saluda Community Land Trust were co-hosts. Walker, Wallace and Emerson and Town and Country Realty of the Carolinas sponsored the forum, while Jeff Byrd coordinated the program.  

During the forum, candidates were allowed to introduce themselves and address questions from the moderator, local podcaster James Hrynshyn, and questions submitted by the audience. The discussions touched on various topics, including disaster preparedness and economic development.

To begin, Beiler expressed his gratitude to everyone who attended the forum, speaking on the importance of community engagement and the challenges faced by the county. Gasperson highlighted his education and long-standing ties to the community. 

Hargett shared her background in healthcare, education, and real estate investment, while Morris spoke about her engineering career and community service. Pack discussed her advocacy for saving Highway 9 and the need for public participation in decision-making processes, and Yoder expressed his gratitude for the county’s educational system and shared his experience as commissioner.

When asked about preparing for future natural disasters, Beiler highlighted the importance of evaluating responses to unique disasters and strengthening community bonds. Gasperson discussed the need for regular conversations and cooperation between the county and the governing boards of its municipalities. Hargett followed up with her thoughts on prioritizing communication infrastructure and disaster planning. 

Morris brought up the need to improve cell phone and broadband coverage, while Pack focused on engaging with experts to identify necessary changes and strengthen infrastructure. Yoder shared the county’s proactive steps, including grants for stream debris removal and emergency operations preparedness.

The second question of the night related to guiding economic development as one of the primary responsibilities of a county commission. 

Yoder expressed the importance of focusing on businesses that align with the county’s strengths, such as agriculture and local family enterprises. Pack spotlighted a desire to encourage locally owned, unique businesses that serve the community and attract visitors. 

Morris emphasized the need to keep Polk County rural and prioritize businesses such as agriculture, agritourism, and healthcare. Hargett advocated for improving infrastructure to attract small and medium-sized enterprises, and Gasperson spoke on the importance of maintaining the county’s rural character and supporting small and medium-sized businesses. 

Beiler brought educational resources to the foreground, such as apprenticeships and getting a heavy equipment program to the school system so students could leave school job-ready. 

The final question of the first half of the forum was, “What role can a commissioner play in making living and working in the county easier without threatening our rural character and the agriculture-oriented economy?”

Morris said there is a need for housing that supports the existing community without transforming the county into a bedroom community. She expressed concerns about large developments turning the area into mini-escapes, highlighting the importance of addressing issues such as infrastructure and traffic when planning new housing. 

Pack spoke on the need for public input and community forums to gather thoughts and ideas for growth and development in the county. She proposed updating the 2020 vision plan to align with the county’s current needs and goals. 

Yoder discussed the delicate balance of creating housing for the workforce while managing development ordinances. He mentioned measures to control density and infrastructure needs, emphasizing the importance of impact studies and sustainable development. 

Hargett called attention to the county’s vulnerability to developers and emphasized the need for zoning to prevent large developments and apartments. She urged residents to participate in planning board and city council meetings to voice their concerns and preferences for the county’s development. 

Gasperson proposed the concept of cluster farm developments to maintain the rural nature of the county. He discussed the potential of clustering dwellings while preserving open and rural spaces, aiming to offer housing options that align with the county’s character. 

Beiler spoke on the scarcity of land and housing in the county, expressing concerns about the rising prices that could make homeownership unattainable for many residents. He highlighted the delicate balance between allowing growth and preserving the county’s character, acknowledging the issue’s complexity.

The second half of the forum featured audience questions, with the first asking if regulations to protect water and property due to water flow should be reenacted. 

Yoder highlighted the importance of addressing the land’s slope when considering water protection regulations. He emphasized the need to focus on the slope of the land rather than its elevation, particularly in the context of potential risks such as mudslides. Beiler expressed concerns about water runoff from construction sites and farms, underscoring the need for proactive citizen involvement in identifying and addressing such issues. He also pointed out the absence of dedicated personnel to monitor these concerns, emphasizing the responsibility of citizens to bring them to the attention of local authorities. 

Gasperson delved into the impact of steep slope areas on housing costs and proposed the idea of cluster developments as a potential solution to lower individual housing costs, and explained the potential benefits of cluster developments in addressing housing affordability. Pack focused on the maintenance of roads by the NCDOT, highlighting the importance of ensuring proper water runoff from roads to address safety concerns for residents. 

Morris brought attention to the environmental considerations associated with land development, emphasizing the need to adhere to parameters set by the State Department of Environmental Quality to prevent soil and silt runoff into streams, which can negatively impact the local ecology.

The next audience question asked if the board has any role in managing the flow of information.

Beiler expressed concerns about the spread of misinformation and proposed organizing community forums to engage with citizens, share information, and address questions. He emphasized the importance of responsible communication and the role of the commissioners in mitigating fear-mongering. 

Pack echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the significant communication challenges in the county. She advocated for conducting community forums to directly interact with citizens, thereby providing proper and accurate information. 

Morris shed light on the difficulty in accessing reliable information in Polk County. She emphasized the need for discretion in processing such material and highlighted the shortcomings of the county’s webpage in providing dynamic and current information. 

Gasperson emphasized the need to address misinformation during public meetings and stressed the role of commissioners in preventing the spread of incorrect information, particularly within the citizen commons. 

Yoder stressed the importance of correcting misinformation as a commissioner, highlighting the collaborative role of both the private and public sectors in providing accurate information and resources to support citizens. He also emphasized the accessibility of valuable information on the county’s website as a resource.

Candidates were then asked to identify one environmental issue they’d like to address.

Gasperson highlighted the need to assess reclamation work for the county’s streams, emphasizing Helene’s devastating impact on water bodies such as Lake Adger, the Green River, and the Pacolet River. He expressed a strong desire to secure state funding to aid in the reclamation efforts. Morris emphasized the importance of focusing on the health of the watersheds and streams, particularly in terms of sediment load and unexpected contaminants such as heavy metals. She underscored the significance of addressing these issues to preserve the overall health of the county’s water systems. 

Pack expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of road paving, and she added the need to prevent further pavement and blacktop runoff that may harm the environment, suggesting that an environmental group should assess the impact on waterways to halt the widening of Highway 9. Beiler mentioned the urgent need for repairs to the Lake Adger dam, estimating the cost to be upwards of 17 billion dollars. He added the crucial nature of this issue and expressed hope for state assistance in funding the necessary repairs. 

Yoder identified debris, silt, and runoff erosion control as the primary environmental threats in the county and shared the news that the Army Corps of Engineers had been contracted to clean up roadways and waterways, including the use of sonar equipment to assess the bottom of Lake Adger.

The night’s final question was, “If you could only accomplish one thing in the term you’re seeking, what would it be and why?”

Pack stressed the importance of increased citizen involvement in local government and expressed a desire for greater public engagement in decision-making processes. Yoder wants to see the expansion of broadband infrastructure as a key initiative, citing a significant investment in fiber optics and internet connectivity. Beiler expressed excitement over his commitment to bringing a YMCA to Polk County, a project he has been actively pursuing. 

Meanwhile, Gasperson said the county’s rural landscape should be protected, and high-density developments should be prevented. Morris advocated preserving Polk County’s rural nature, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts between the county and townships to safeguard farmland and productive land.

Overall, the forum provided valuable insights into the candidates’ perspectives and their priorities for Polk County’s future.