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COLUMBUS—At the Polk County Board of Commissioners regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the board heard updates on the continued construction of Tryon Elementary’s new Pre-K building, as well as Turner Shoals Dam. 

Polk County Schools Director of Operations Brandon Schweitzer updated commissioners on the progress of Tryon Elementary’s upcoming Pre-K building and asked for the Board to approve the fifth payment installment for the building. Funds for the building will come from the North Carolina State Lottery, and will also be partially paid for by the federal program Head Start.

Schweitzer also requested an amendment for a “bulk request” for $151,587 for a transfer from the county’s capital reserve. This was for what Schweitzer referred to as “several different, small item projects going on across the district.” Both motions passed unanimously.

In addition, in place of Dave Odom of Odom Engineering, County Manager Marche Pittman updated the Board regarding  Turner Shoals Dam on Highway 9 in Mill Spring. 

“We’ve gotten an agreement for the renovations on the dam from an engineering standpoint. The drawings have gone to the state, and they’ve been approved by the state,” said Pittman. “So the next step is employing the engineering firm to start the next process which will be completing the job.”

There was also a motion to approve the agreement with GEI Consultants of North Carolina, P.C., to provide engineering services for the Turner Shoals Dam, not to exceed

$120,000, as well as a motion to approve the agreement with GEI to provide field engineering and Quality Control Inspection Program support for the Turner Shoals Dam Modification project for $400,000.

Both motions were approved unanimously.