Board agrees to look for funding
for PVS
Polk County Commissioners were recently faced with two bids for its annual maintenance of efforts funds for mental health with commissioners choosing to again fund the Polk Community Health and Wellness Center.

Polk Vocational Services (PVS) also applied for funding this year, saying their funding has been cut and funding from Polk could help offset some of those cuts.

Commissioners agreed to grant the Polk Wellness Center with the full amount of $74,981 and discussed how to work with PVS to help get them funding from another source. PVS had requested $50,000 worth of the funding.

Commissioner Cindy Walker said it’s hard when the county has two great facilities. She motioned that the funding go to the Polk Wellness Center, saying they are new and she feels like it’s important for the county to help them as much as it can.

“I’m appreciative that PVS has been here for a long time,” Walker said. “I have to pick what I feel like is the most critical need.”

Commissioner Ted Owens asked if the county could give the majority to Polk Wellness and some to PVS.

“I know both organizations are very important,” Owens said.

He said PVS is providing a real service for citizens of Polk County that need it as well as Polk Wellness Center.

“If we can’t help PVS with this maybe we should think about helping from an economic development standpoint because they do provide jobs,” Owens said.