POLK COUNTY



POLK COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ PUBLIC HEARING & REGULAR MEETING

January 8, 2018 – 6:30 P.M.

R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice

Womack Building

Columbus, NC

MINUTES

PRESENT: Chairman Johnson, Vice-Chairman Yoder, Commissioner Bradley Commissioner Gasperson and Commissioner Melton. Also in attendance were County Manager Pittman, County Attorney Berg, Clerk to the Board High, media and citizens.

1. Call to Order of the Public Hearing on the Possibility of Enacting a Polk County Golf Cart Ordinance – Chairman Johnson called the public hearing to order. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive public comment on enacting a Polk County Golf Cart Ordinance. The public hearing was properly advertised in the Tryon Daily Bulletin.

2. Citizen Comments – A petition with 46 signatures of Polk County citizens in favor of enacting a Golf Cart Ordinance was submitted. Mel Collins and Pat Morrison both of Green River Cove Road, and Grey Lancaster of Moore Road all spoke in favor of enacting a Golf Court Ordinance. Angie Leffort and Joyce Burnette both of Catherine Road in Columbus spoke in opposition of enacting the ordinance. Commissioner Gasperson read an email he received from Sharon Goettert who lives on Golf Course Road and requested safety regulations be incorporated into the ordinance, and a clear designation of roads approved for golf carts.

3. Commissioner Comments – There were none.

4. Adjournment – Commissioner Melton moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Bradley and the motion carried unanimously.

5. Call to Order Regular Meeting – Chairman Johnson called the regular meeting to order.

6. Invocation – Chairman Johnson gave the invocation.

7. Pledge of Allegiance – Vice-Chairman Yoder led the pledge.

8. Approval of Agenda – Commissioner Melton moved to approve the agenda as written, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

9. Consent Agenda

A) December 18, 2017, regular meeting minutes.

B) Tax Department December 2017 refund request – $665.76.

C) Annual examination of bonds §58-72-20 - Polk County Finance Officer, Register of Deeds, Sheriff, and Tax Collector.

D) Annual review and application approval – NC Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Social Services: Community Services Block Grant Program FY 2018/19 for an ongoing Western Carolina Community Action Community Services Block Grant.

Vice-Chairman Yoder moved to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Commissioner Bradley and the motion carried unanimously.

10. Citizen Comments on Agenda Items – Pat Morrison, Mel Collins, and Grey Lancaster spoke on Agenda item 16.

11. Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items – Grey Lancaster spoke about the change order approved at the last Board of Commissioners meeting. Michael Veatch requested lowering the speed limit on Moore Road, and asked for special meetings to keep citizens informed about the World Equestrian Games.

12. N.C. Arts Council Designated County Partners (DCPs) – Andy Millard, member of the Board of Directors of the Tryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC) requested that TFAC be the NC Arts Council Designated County Partner. Mr. Millard explained Tryon Fine Arts Center has been the provisional partner for the last ten years, and changing them to the official designated partner will eliminate the annual application process they currently must do. Mr. Millard said this designation allows them to receive grants for arts programs, and will not require any funding from the County. He said they met with other area arts organizations, and the Polk County School Board Superintendent Aaron Greene to discuss the designation, and everyone agreed with the designation going to TFAC. Commissioner Melton asked if there was any opposition from any of the other organizations, and Mr. Millard said it was a unanimous agreement to have TFAC become the DCP. Commissioner Gasperson said he would like to see a member of the Arts Community on the Economic and Tourism Development Commission, Mr. Millard said they would be very open to that opportunity in the future.

Vice-Chairman Yoder moved to approve TFAC as the Polk County NC Arts Council’s designated county partner, seconded by Commissioner Melton and the motion carried unanimously.

13. Help through Outreach, Prevention, Education, and Economics (HOPE^2) Grant Funded Project – Joshua Kennedy, Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA) Director stated they have received a grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina in the amount of $17, 500 to support a part time temporary employee as the coordinator for the Help through Outreach, Prevention, Education, and the Economics (HOPE^2) program. He said this position would maximize the coordination of services, and ensure the use of those services help to reduce poverty. He said there will be no match or obligation required from the county.

Commissioner Gasperson moved to accept the grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and amend the budget by $17,500, seconded by Commissioner Melton and the motion carried unanimously.

 

14. Vaya Health’s Strategic Planning Overview - Shelly Foreman, MPA, Western Region Community Relations with Vaya Health was on the agenda to present the information, and discuss the Medicaid transformation. She was not present and the information was not discussed.

15. Annual Appearance Commission Beautification Awards – Appearance Commission Chairman Joe Cooper presented beautification awards for local improvements throughout the county that are open to public view. This year’s recipients were the Veteran’s Park in Columbus, and the Stott’s Ford Building in Tryon.

16. Golf Cart Ordinance Discussion – Commissioners discussed the safety, cost, and enforcement of enacting a Golf Cart Ordinance. Consensus was given to direct Attorney Berg to draft a Golf Cart Ordinance, following the model ordinance from the state, and restricting it to certain roads. The Commissioners agreed to hold a second public hearing on January 22, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. in the R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice, Womack Building, to take public comment on the draft Polk County Golf Cart Ordinance.

17. Manager’s Report – Manager Pittman said the County has collected 11 % more sales tax than this time last year. He said he feels comfortable releasing capital expenditures for county departments that have been on hold until the sales tax data was received.

18. Volunteer Boards for Vote – Commissioner Melton moved to appoint James Stewart to the Recreation Advisory Board, seconded by Vice-Chairman Yoder and the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Melton moved to appoint Ray Williams to the Tryon Planning Board (ETJ), seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

19. Volunteer Boards for Review – The Commissioners reviewed the applications for the Board of Adjustment.

20. Commissioner Comments - The Commissioners thanked everyone for coming and participating in the meeting, and they appreciated the submission of the petition.

21. Closed Session – Commissioner Melton moved to go into closed session for the purpose of attorney client privilege, §143-318.11(a)(3), seconded by Commissioner Bradley and the motion carried unanimously.

22. Return to Open Session – Commissioner Gasperson moved to return to open session, seconded by Vice-Chairman Yoder, and the motion carried unanimously.

23. Adjournment – Commissioner Melton moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by

Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST: POLK COUNTY BOARD

OF COMMISSIONERS

__________________________ __________________________

Angé High Jake Johnson

Clerk to the Board Chairman

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