Polk County commissioners have decided to use the county’s reserves to finish remaining renovations to an adult day care center rather than wait for the funds to be raised.The board on Monday approved taking up to $60,000 from the countys fund balance to finish the project by a 4-1 vote. Chair Cindy Walker voted against the motion. Walker and commissioner Rene McDermott expressed concern about taking money from fund balance considering the board had previously decided to do renovations when funds were raised. The county had approved a fundraising committee to raise the remainder needed for the project due to the current economic times.

Commissioner Tommy Melton motioned Monday to appropriate the funding and McDermott and Walker said they were unaware the appropriation was going to be discussed during the meeting.

Commissioners said fundraising efforts for the project are apparently going to be near impossible considering the renovations are near complete. The fundraising committee decided instead to continue fundraising, but to raise money for scholarships for persons who cannot afford to attend the new adult day care.

The adult day care center will be located off Skyuka Road, just behind the new county’s new senior center, which opened yesterday.All of the commissioners said they support opening an adult day care as soon as possible because of the great need in Polk County. Commissioners have already chosen Rutherford Life Services to run the center with the county providing the building.

Many of the renovations to the adult day care have been either completed or the projects approved. The only renovations left are to install a sprinkler system and do paving of a road and circle at the building, estimated at about $50,000. The county saved from other projects and got sales tax reimbursements from projects in the amount of about $100,000 for other renovations to the center.

Some commissioners have stated they want renovations to be completed by the end of this year, so the center can open sometime next year. Commissioners did decide to appropriate up to $60,000 from fund balance and for that funding to be reimbursed through any grants the Polk County Council on Aging obtains.