Here are the highlights from last nights Polk County Commissioners mtg:
** We need your help! I would love some volunteers willing to attend and occasional commissioners mtg. and supplying a brief write up to publish here --- that way no one person has to always go (and I know I won't always be there). Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in signing up. THANKS Dave P.
- I was impressed to see the commissioners (led by chair Tom Pack) handle the mtg. like adults (unlike some of the mtgs. last year). They even let two ladies that got up to speak together go over the 3 minute rule (which was warranted). It was good to see. Let's hope they don't devolve into sniping at each other and the public as with the previous board.
- Almost all citizen comments were in relation to concerns about "jake-braking" on hwy 14, Peniel and Collinsville Rd - particularly near horse crossings. Cement and logging trucks sometimes downshift to slow their rigs and it it VERY noisy and could throw a rider from their horse. They have tasked Kathy Ruth with setting up a process for putting together a listing of horse crossing areas to turn over to NC DOT for study (they have final say in signage etc). The commissioners also agreed to have Jan Berg (county attorney), Kathy Ruth (planning) and Donnie Hill (Sheriff) look into drafting a county ordinance to make "jake-braking" illegal in certain areas. Nice example of county gov. looking into citizen concerns to see what can be done. Contact Kathy Ruth if you have issues with "jake-braking" near you (like on Pea Ridge Rd.).
- The commissioners (4 to 1) voted to spend roughly $125,000 on another waterline extension for a single Baptist Church. Really? Hard to say whether this was just a weak justification for the continued build out of Polk's' waterline infrastructure (getting us ready for future growth that they are hoping to bring) or some sort of political payback. Only they (the 4 commissioners) know, but this appears to be the 3rd $100k+ waterline extension in recent years for a county that "currently" has very little need for it.
- Human Resources mgr - Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to allocate money from the county budget for a new permanent Human Resources position (currently handled by the County Mgr. & Finance officer) --- roughly 15 out of 25 counties our size in NC have one. Ray Gasperson was the sole dissenting vote due to concerns about the cost of the position (roughly $45-60k plus benefits).
- Robert Williamson gave an update on the "unprecedented growth" headed to our area due to the Tryon International Equestrian center.
- ICWD Contract - Because the Local Government Commission (LGC) of NC told commissioners they would NOT approve a contract between Inman-Campobello Water District and Pok (due to concerns over unreasonable potential debt to citizens of Polk county) Polk will be sending representatives to Raleigh on thursday to meet with the LGC to understand what they (LGC) would or would not be willing to approve. Tom Pack motioned for Polk to send two commissioners only (Himself and Michael Gage) to avoid it being considered a "public mtg". Before they could quickly approve this (they tried), Ray Gasperson asked for a discussion and requested to attend. Ultimately Ray would not back down and Tom Pack was force to make this a "public meeting" - ALL commissioners plus marche Pitman (county mgr), Jana Berg (attorney) and the clerk of court will attend. The mtg will be announced to the public and mtg. minutes must now be kept of the meeting (which would not have been the case otherwise). Clearly the majority WILL find a way to get this contract done ultimately, but it will be interesting to see if Polk Citizens will get a less "one-sided" agreement this time. Stay tuned for more on this one...
** We need your help! I would love some volunteers willing to attend and occasional commissioners mtg. and supplying a brief write up to publish here --- that way no one person has to always go (and I know I won't always be there). Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in signing up. THANKS Dave P.