February 20 Board of Commissioners Meeting Agenda
The Meeting Starts at 7:00 pm. You must sign up before the meeting starts if you want to make a "citizen comment."
1 Citizen Comments on Agenda Items
2 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) - Bill Kerns will present.
3 FY 2017/18 Budget Calendar - To consider approval of the proposed budget calendar for the upcoming fiscal year.
4 Power Easement Request - County Attorney Berg will present the easement request from Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for the Polk County Jail and Law Enforcement Facility.
5 Medical Services Agreement - County Attorney Berg will present the proposed agreement between the Polk County Detention Center for the benefit of the Polk County Sheriff's office and St. Luke's Hospital, Inc.
6 Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) - Discuss Development Agreement revision and Zoning Ordinance amendments; schedule two public hearings.
7 Manager's Report - Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA).
8 Volunteer Board for Vote - Council on Aging - 2 applications, 2 vacancies.
9 Volunteer Boards for Review - Recycling Board - 1 application, 1 vacancy; Isothermal Planning and Development Commission- 1 application, 1 vacancy.
10 Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items.
11 Commissioner Comments.
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February 6 BOC Meeting Recap
New Board of Elections Law
Cliff Marr, Director of the county Board of Elections, explained the law the state legislature passed last year to make changes to local and the state Boards of Elections. Governor Roy Cooper is challenging those changes in court, and the outcome may not be known for several months.
If the law is found to be constitutional, Democrats will be able to appoint 2 members to the local Board of Elections and Republicans will continue to appoint 2 members. Prior to 2017, the party of the elected Governor appointed 2 members and the opposition party could name only 1 member. New appointments are usually made in July.
ICC Update; Scholarship News
Walter Dalton, President of Isothermal Community College and former Democratic candidate for Governor, gave an update on ICC. Of note was his mention of the Power Scholarship which allows residents of Polk or Rutherford Counties to attend classes tuition-free.
County Manager Marche Pittman reported that the contractor for the new jail has been on site for 7 weeks and is on schedule. Regarding whether or not the former Foster's Creek Preserve, now owned by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, can be de-annexed from the town of Columbus, Attorney Jana Berg stated that de-annexation requires that a local law sponsored by a state legislator would have to be sent to the state for action.
Lake Adger Channel Dredging
Commissioner Myron Yoder announced that he met at Lake Adger with state Wildlife Resource Commission (WRC) staff who were here to investigate channel dredging. Last year, the WRC stated they intended to have the channel dredged by June 30, 2017.
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January 23 BOC Meeting Recap
Exciting Foster Creek Preserve Pans
Kieran Roe, Executive Director of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, gave a presentation on the plans for the Conservancy's and recent acquisition of the former Foster Creek development - 1,068 acres on the east side of Columbus which abuts the middle school property. On the north, it also abuts the state's Green River Gamelands.
Partners in this acquisition are our local Pacolet Area Conservancy, NC Wildlife Resources, Polk County Recreation Dep't and the Housing Assistance Corporation. NC Wildlife is interested in adding half the acreage to the Gamelands. Housing Assistance would like to build affordable housing on 30 acres. It is planned to add 300 acres to the County's park acreage.
During January through March, 2017, public input on plans for the land will be sought and funding will be solidified. CMLC is asking the County to apply for financing from the state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund because CMLC, as a non-profit entity, cannot apply for these funds. This is the reason for the transfer of 300 acres to the County.
Commissioner Melton asked if the entire tract could be de-annexed from the town of Columbus. County Attorney Berg was not sure. Commissioner Gasperson noted that the housing development would have to comply with the County subdivision ordinance. County Manager Pittman added that there is public water but no sewers are available.
Jerry Stensland, Director of the Recreation Dep't, said the goal is for no Polk County dollars to be spent on development. All funding would come from the Parks and Recreation grant.
Emergency Management
A presentation was made by Bobby Arledge, Polk County Emergency Management Director, and Rocky Hyder from Henderson County Emergency Management recommending creation of one committee to make annual budget recommendations for all fire departments so that budget requests would be in one standard format and based on the same criteria. Three members of this new committee would be chosen by the BOC, three by the Fire Chiefs' Association and those six would choose a seventh member. The BOC approved this request.
Real Property Revaluation
Robert Haskins of Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group gave another update on the revaluation of real property saying that the process should be done "soon." Property values in the county have barely budged since the last reval 8 years ago. Of the 300 "neighborhoods", 65% will see no increase or will see a decrease in taxes; 35% will see an increase. National franchises like Dollar Store will see an increase. The next reval will occur in 4 years instead of 8.
Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance
Most of the Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance Animal Cruelty Investigators were in attendance (including those tossed off the volunteer board by the old BOC and reinstated by the present Board) to hear Margo Savage's presentation on the history and duties of the group.
All Equine Rescue volunteers serve without pay on their own time and at their own expense, which includes travel and uniforms. Working in coordination with the Animal Control Officer and equine owners, they work to protect the lives of horses, donkeys (and sometimes llamas). An appreciative round of applause from those in attendance followed the presentation.
Citizen Comments Expanded
The BOC now allows citizen comments on non-agenda items. Sky Conard spoke against former Commissioner Holbert's recommendation that a special tax district be created for the Lake Adger development residents to help pay for needed Lake Adger maintenance.
The Meeting Starts at 7:00 pm. You must sign up before the meeting starts if you want to make a "citizen comment."
1 Citizen Comments on Agenda Items
2 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) - Bill Kerns will present.
3 FY 2017/18 Budget Calendar - To consider approval of the proposed budget calendar for the upcoming fiscal year.
4 Power Easement Request - County Attorney Berg will present the easement request from Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for the Polk County Jail and Law Enforcement Facility.
5 Medical Services Agreement - County Attorney Berg will present the proposed agreement between the Polk County Detention Center for the benefit of the Polk County Sheriff's office and St. Luke's Hospital, Inc.
6 Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) - Discuss Development Agreement revision and Zoning Ordinance amendments; schedule two public hearings.
7 Manager's Report - Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA).
8 Volunteer Board for Vote - Council on Aging - 2 applications, 2 vacancies.
9 Volunteer Boards for Review - Recycling Board - 1 application, 1 vacancy; Isothermal Planning and Development Commission- 1 application, 1 vacancy.
10 Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items.
11 Commissioner Comments.
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February 6 BOC Meeting Recap
New Board of Elections Law
Cliff Marr, Director of the county Board of Elections, explained the law the state legislature passed last year to make changes to local and the state Boards of Elections. Governor Roy Cooper is challenging those changes in court, and the outcome may not be known for several months.
If the law is found to be constitutional, Democrats will be able to appoint 2 members to the local Board of Elections and Republicans will continue to appoint 2 members. Prior to 2017, the party of the elected Governor appointed 2 members and the opposition party could name only 1 member. New appointments are usually made in July.
ICC Update; Scholarship News
Walter Dalton, President of Isothermal Community College and former Democratic candidate for Governor, gave an update on ICC. Of note was his mention of the Power Scholarship which allows residents of Polk or Rutherford Counties to attend classes tuition-free.
County Manager Marche Pittman reported that the contractor for the new jail has been on site for 7 weeks and is on schedule. Regarding whether or not the former Foster's Creek Preserve, now owned by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, can be de-annexed from the town of Columbus, Attorney Jana Berg stated that de-annexation requires that a local law sponsored by a state legislator would have to be sent to the state for action.
Lake Adger Channel Dredging
Commissioner Myron Yoder announced that he met at Lake Adger with state Wildlife Resource Commission (WRC) staff who were here to investigate channel dredging. Last year, the WRC stated they intended to have the channel dredged by June 30, 2017.
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January 23 BOC Meeting Recap
Exciting Foster Creek Preserve Pans
Kieran Roe, Executive Director of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, gave a presentation on the plans for the Conservancy's and recent acquisition of the former Foster Creek development - 1,068 acres on the east side of Columbus which abuts the middle school property. On the north, it also abuts the state's Green River Gamelands.
Partners in this acquisition are our local Pacolet Area Conservancy, NC Wildlife Resources, Polk County Recreation Dep't and the Housing Assistance Corporation. NC Wildlife is interested in adding half the acreage to the Gamelands. Housing Assistance would like to build affordable housing on 30 acres. It is planned to add 300 acres to the County's park acreage.
During January through March, 2017, public input on plans for the land will be sought and funding will be solidified. CMLC is asking the County to apply for financing from the state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund because CMLC, as a non-profit entity, cannot apply for these funds. This is the reason for the transfer of 300 acres to the County.
Commissioner Melton asked if the entire tract could be de-annexed from the town of Columbus. County Attorney Berg was not sure. Commissioner Gasperson noted that the housing development would have to comply with the County subdivision ordinance. County Manager Pittman added that there is public water but no sewers are available.
Jerry Stensland, Director of the Recreation Dep't, said the goal is for no Polk County dollars to be spent on development. All funding would come from the Parks and Recreation grant.
Emergency Management
A presentation was made by Bobby Arledge, Polk County Emergency Management Director, and Rocky Hyder from Henderson County Emergency Management recommending creation of one committee to make annual budget recommendations for all fire departments so that budget requests would be in one standard format and based on the same criteria. Three members of this new committee would be chosen by the BOC, three by the Fire Chiefs' Association and those six would choose a seventh member. The BOC approved this request.
Real Property Revaluation
Robert Haskins of Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group gave another update on the revaluation of real property saying that the process should be done "soon." Property values in the county have barely budged since the last reval 8 years ago. Of the 300 "neighborhoods", 65% will see no increase or will see a decrease in taxes; 35% will see an increase. National franchises like Dollar Store will see an increase. The next reval will occur in 4 years instead of 8.
Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance
Most of the Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance Animal Cruelty Investigators were in attendance (including those tossed off the volunteer board by the old BOC and reinstated by the present Board) to hear Margo Savage's presentation on the history and duties of the group.
All Equine Rescue volunteers serve without pay on their own time and at their own expense, which includes travel and uniforms. Working in coordination with the Animal Control Officer and equine owners, they work to protect the lives of horses, donkeys (and sometimes llamas). An appreciative round of applause from those in attendance followed the presentation.
Citizen Comments Expanded
The BOC now allows citizen comments on non-agenda items. Sky Conard spoke against former Commissioner Holbert's recommendation that a special tax district be created for the Lake Adger development residents to help pay for needed Lake Adger maintenance.