Discussions on Monday included that Polk officials do not want to fund the center, but would be interested in providing a facility for such a service.

Commissioners decided to send current architectural plans out for bid for the just the senior center for now. Polk officials plan to speak with Rutherford Life Services about running a daycare center there. Commissioners said they could temporarily house a daycare center in the smaller building at the former school and come up with longer range plans later, such as possibly constructing another building on the site.

Renovations for the senior center include the addition of a commerical kitchen and a covered walkway between the two existing buildings.

The main building is 6,750 square foot with the rear building being 3,240 square foot. Meeting Place officials said they plan on housing a fitness center in the rear building. Plans are to add approximately 1,600 square foot for the commercial kitchen that will include a food pick up area for home delivered meals.

Minor renovations are needed in the buildings and include raising urinals in bathrooms due to them currently being made for children.

Ellen Harris, with Harris Architects said the building is fortunately already handicap accessible and meets all building codes.

Commissioners decided to delay their second February meeting until Feb. 23 in order to approve a bid for the renovation project. The county will then submit the bid to the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) in order to gain approval to finance the project. Plans are for renovations to begin in June and the senior center to move into its new location in August or September.

Commissioners decided last year to purchase the former school off Skyuka Road in Columbus in an attempt to begin moving all offices out of the aged Jervey-Palmer building in Tryon. Currently, the Meeting Place Senior Center, department of social services, mental health services and veteran&squo;s affairs are housed in the Jervey Palmer building.

Commissioners have also recently agreed to purchase two acres off Park Street with plans to construct a new department of social services building, which could also&bsp; house mental health services.