Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

COLUMBUS—On Monday, January 13, the Polk County Board of Commissioners met at the Bryant H. Womack Justice & Administration Building.

The meeting began with a public hearing called to order by Chairman Yoder, who sought community input on proposed new road names. The names under consideration included Carson Meadows Drive, Fairway Drive, and Kenneth Drive in Green Creek Township; Hidden View Lane off Chesnee Rd; Oak Leaf Trail in Tryon Township; and Haven Way in White Oak Township. No citizen comments were made.

Following the public hearing, the Board amended the budget to approve a transfer of $90,000 to Rostan Solutions, LLC, as Polk County’s FEMA Grant Administrator. Tax refund requests totaling $1,982.53 were also approved, alongside the scheduling of a public hearing to discuss text amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance on February 17.

During the meeting, Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene requested a budget amendment to transfer $241,209.00 from the Capital Reserve Fund to the General Fund to reimburse capital spending related to the Tryon Elementary Pre-K addition and track repairs at Polk County High School. The Board approved this request and six new private road names, which were discussed earlier in the public hearing.

Planning Director Cathy Ruth provided a presentation on Temporary Transportable Housing Units in the floodplain, leading the Board to approve the placement of units in flood-prone areas on a case-by-case basis through a designated committee. The Board also passed a resolution extending the moratorium on permit fees under the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 and examining development regulations to assist with disaster recovery efforts.

Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge provided an update on disaster relief and recovery efforts, explaining that the US Army Corp of Engineers has been working hard throughout the county to remove storm debris after Tropical Storm Helene.

“Still continuing to pick up roadside debris,” said Arledge. “They have been working seven days a week to pick up the debris and, as you can see, have made considerable progress. The US Army Corps of Engineers will be doing private property removal and waterway removal in the coming weeks.”

The Board approved several volunteer board applications, appointing Thomas Adkins to the Adult Care & Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee and confirming Ray Gasperson and Carl Pleasants to the Agricultural Advisory Board. The appointments continued, with Allan “Tony” Dale for Columbus Township, Ray Gasperson for Green Creek Township, and Warren Watson for Tryon Township joining the Planning Board.