The Polk County Board of Commissioners voted to change meeting times next year, as well as occasional locations.
The board of commissioners swore in new commissioners Ted Owens and Tom Pack and incumbent commissioner Ray Gasperson Dec. 6.
Commissioners also decided for one meeting per month to begin at 3 p.m. and for one meeting per quarter to be held in different townships.
The move began with Owens suggesting one meeting per month be held at 5 p.m. instead of the usual 7 p.m. in an effort to reach more residents. Owens also suggested one meeting per quarter be held in different locations throughout the county.
Commissioner Cindy Walker suggested 9 a.m. instead of 5 p.m., but after some discussion the board unanimously agreed on the 3 p.m. time too accommodate work schedules.
The county generally meets the first and third Mondays of the month. Monday’s meeting was the last for this year, as the second December meeting was canceled because of the holidays.
Beginning in January, the county will meet the first Monday at 7 p.m. at the Womack building in Columbus as usual.
The first meeting the county will hold in another township is scheduled for March 7, 2011. The once per quarter travel meeting will be held on the first Monday of the month and will be at 7 p.m. at locations throughout the county to be decided at a later date.
Commissioners also agreed to hold an all-day retreat on Jan. 24 that will begin at 9 a.m. in the Womack building. The retreat will replace what would have been the county’s first 3 p.m. meeting on the third Monday.