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COLUMBUS—At Monday’s regularly scheduled Polk Board of Commissioners meeting, the county heard an update on Thermal Belt Outreach and a dredging project at Green River. It also approved funding for Polk County Schools.

Thermal Belt Outreach Executive Director Margot Carter addressed the board regarding the programs and services provided by Outreach.

“Outreach has been around quite a while,” she said. “In fact, 33 years this month.”

Carter explained that Outreach provides food for those facing food insecurity through its pantry and shared other services the organization provides. She also explained Outreach’s “Life Works” program.

“This is a relatively new program where we work with adults who want to change their lives,” she said. “It’s a goal-based program where they work with an individual client manager who helps them with goals so they can ultimately take care of their families and get off financial support services. To me, this program is a game changer.”

The Life Works program also provides school supplies and holiday gifts for children and seniors in the county.

She also shared that Horse Creek Village, a mixed-income neighborhood being developed on Outreach’s campus to provide affordable rental housing, will eventually consist of 18 homes. 

“We have homes that range from single-bedroom, single-bathroom homes that are 600 sq. ft., all the way up to 4 bed/2.5 bath homes that are 2,100 sq ft.,” she said.

Commissioners thanked Carter for the work Outreach is doing.

“I think the most important thing is making sure that citizens are aware of this resource that’s available,” said Commissioner Andre Overholt.

Next, the Board heard an update from Warren Eadus, the director of environmental services for West Region WithersRavenel, on the ongoing Green River sand and gravel dredge project. He discussed an 18-acre property owned by the county on Palmer Road, where his engineering firm is working to resolve sediment issues.

Eadus explained the process for removing materials from the river and shared images and videos of the facility pulling the silt out and processing it.

Chairman Myron Yoder pointed out that when the project was conceived eight years ago, it was proposed at a cost of $11 million, but through the county’s contract with Ameri-Con, only $22,000 of taxpayer funds have been needed.

“That’s what I’m most proud of,” he said. “That we saved taxpayer money.”

The county also heard from Tax Administrator Melissa O’Loughlin on the proposed uniform schedule of values, standards, and rules for the 2025 county-wide property revaluation. A copy of the Schedule of Values is now available for public review in the tax office and at polknc.gov.

The board scheduled a public hearing on the Schedule of Values submission for Monday, October 7.

Lastly, the board heard from Polk County Schools’ director of operations, Dr. Brandon Schweitzer. He discussed a grant application to the N.C. State Lottery Fund for $7 million to build a 12,800 sq. ft. addition to Polk County High School for career and technical education classes, which the board unanimously approved.

A reimbursement of local funds in the amount of  $113,628 was also approved for the recent Tryon Elementary Pre-K expansion, as well as a Capital Reserve Transfer of $93,822 reserved in prior years and set aside for school funding.

The board also approved an awning project for Saluda Elementary School that will cost $49,200, using funds from the Public School Building Capital Fund.