Polk County commissioners have a full agenda today as they will hold their first planning session for an economic development policy as well as a regular meeting.

The economic development work session is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. with Robert Williamson, with Strategic Work Systems Inc., whom the county hired as a consultant on an economic development policy and strategy. The meeting is open to the public.

The county’s regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., both to be held in the commissioner’s meeting room in the Womack building in Columbus.

The economic development work session will begin with commissioners reviewing Williamson’s comments he made to the board during the county’s Oct. 21 meeting followed by the review of the Adult Skills Survey 2013, a discussion of “new economy” and local economic development trends in the U.S.

The agenda next moves to a review of the county’s 20/20 Vision plan, including policy and implementation strategy excerpts from page 5 of the summary of the vision plan and discussion of the relationships among the “five areas of concern,” from page VII-1 of the plan, which includes land use compatibility, natural environment, economic development, community services and facilities and land use plan administration. Discussion of the Vision 20/20 plan will also include the review of maps of the economic impact zone and future land use.

Commissioners are also scheduled to do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) exercise, then review expectations for the county’s economic development policy and strategic plan.

According to Williamson, the policy will include statements that set the stage for making strategic decisions as to our growth and development approach, goals and objectives.

The strategic plan are statements that define how we are to achieve the goals and objectives set out in the policy, according to Williamson.

Commissioners agreed to hire Williamson for $6,000 during its Oct. 21 meeting to facilitate the county in developing an economic policy and strategic plan.

The county’s regular meeting includes the agenda items of Rutherford Life Services, recommendations from the school security task force and the review of the county’s comprehensive recreation plan.