The Polk County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on Monday, July 21. (Photo courtesy of polknc.gov)

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COLUMBUS—The Polk County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on Monday, July 21, addressing matters ranging from education funding and health services to appointments to county boards.

County Manager Marche Pittman announced that the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded Polk County a contract to continue operating the local license plate agency. Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement.

“It says a lot about our management and the folks working over there,” Pittman said. “We have people come from all over to use our tag office because of the good customer service.”

Health and Human Services Director Josh Kennedy informed commissioners that Bright Star, the current in-home aid provider, declined to renew its contract for the upcoming fiscal year, and that $70,000 in annual block grant funding is available.. The Health and Human Services Agency was asked to oversee the service and subcontract it locally. 

Polk County Schools Director of Operations Brandon Schweitzer requested and received approval for two funding items. The first was $500,000 from the Public School Capital Fund—funded through the NC Education Lottery—for road construction and paving behind Polk County High School.

“That is lottery capital funding, not local monies,” Schweitzer noted.

He also secured approval for a $231,923.96 budget transfer from the county’s capital reserve to reimburse the school system for a completed road drainage and paving project.

Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge presented the 2025 South Mountain Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a FEMA-backed five-year strategy aimed at improving disaster readiness. Commissioners approved the resolution.

The plan coordinates with the various towns and municipalities in the county for grant funding. “It helps with grants through FEMA and everything else,” said Arledge. “It’s already been approved by FEMA and by state emergency management.”

Commissioners also approved a $1.36 million purchase order to Republic Services from the Polk County Landfill for trash hauling and disposal under a 2024 contract.

“It costs to get rid of trash in the county,” said Pittman. “It’s a large number, but we just want the public to be aware of that. Unfortunately, it’s part of taking care of garbage for a large area like we do. It’s a big number, but it’s a number that’s been planned and budgeted for. And it’s in tipping fees, not general fund money.”

During public comment, Dr. Ted Owen, a longtime veterinarian and current FHS board member, raised concerns about $165 million in frozen federal education funds, citing information from N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson. Owen said Polk County Schools could lose up to $3.3 million and urged commissioners to advocate for congressional intervention.

“This isn’t about partisan politics,” Owen said. “It’s about Polk County children and the harm that will come to them.”

Sean Kellar spoke in support of allowing short-term vacation rentals in RE-5 residential zones and requested that the board return the issue to the Planning Board for a new public hearing.

“There shouldn’t be anything controversial about allowing a guest to stay in a guest house and making a few dollars in the process,” he said.

Kellar is seeking a text amendment to current zoning restrictions, which he described as overly restrictive and unjustified.

Pat Lennon inquired about progress on the YMCA facility. Pittman responded that the county is aiming to break ground before the end of the year.

“We’re still shooting on turning dirt (on the facility) by the end of the calendar year,” said Pittman. “So within the next six to seven months, we should see some significant movement.”

The board also made several citizen appointments. Suzanne Cropper, Catherine Mayer and Angel Mitchell were appointed to the Animal Control Board, and Carolyn Ashburn was appointed to the Polk County Appearance Commission. Vacancies were also filled on the Board of Adjustment and the District Tax Commission.

The next regular meeting of the Polk County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for August 18 at the Womack Building.