by Leah Justice

Several Polk County employees were recognized during the Polk County Board of Commissioner meeting on Monday, Sept. 8 for their work getting the county’s new tag and tax office open.

The new office opened on Walker St. in Columbus on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The office is now a combined license plate and tax office and will also one day house the state’s driver’s license agency.

Polk County Commissioner Keith Holbert, who is credited with getting a license plate agency in the county, recognized the employees during the meeting saying the accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the work of the employees.

The county renovated the former Polk County Early College to house the tag and tax office. The tax office was formerly located in the Womack building, also in downtown Columbus.

Employees recognized included:

Tax office: Melissa Bowlin, Joey Cabaniss, Shirley Campbell, Sandy DeVelasco, Sarah Fisher, Paula Powell and Yvette Szusler.

Maintenance: Mickey Edwards, Eli Edwards, Jason Jolley, Jeff Reid, Cindy Thompson, Teresa Butler, Nick Elder and Karen McEntire.

IT/MIS: Bruce Yelton, David Weisgerber and Josh Peterson.

Building inspections: Steve Jones and Kristy Tipton.

Emergency Management: Bobby Arledge

Planning and zoning: Cathy Ruth and Joy Sharp.

Finance department: Sandra Hughes

Bowlin said the first day the new tag office was opened Polk County did 185 transactions and 446 transactions in the first three days.