Polk’s first township meeting draws 110

Published 5:22 pm Tuesday, March 8, 2011

New security measures begin
Green Creek residents kept pouring into their fire department Monday, March 7 to attend the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ first traveling meeting. A total of 110 residents attended.
All commissioners commented on how pleased they were with the attendance.
Commissioner Ted Owens said the turnout was especially pleasing given that the county attempted to hold traveling meetings throughout the county several years ago and eventually stopped partly because attendance was low.
Owens originally suggested holding meetings throughout the county last year. Commissioners all agreed traveling is a good idea in order to reach more residents. They scheduled the meetings to travel every three months. The next traveling meeting will be held in Saluda on June 6. The traveling meetings will always begin at 7 p.m.

Right: Cliff Eubanks of the Polk sheriff’s office scans Bill Smith with a hand-held metal detector as Smith arrives for the commissioners meeting Monday, March 7. (photo by Leah Justice)

The county commissioners also this year decided to begin their second meeting of the month at 3 p.m., in an attempt to draw different residents. The county’s next meeting on March 21 will be held at 3 p.m. at the Womack building in Columbus, in the commissioners’ regular meeting room.
The Green Creek meeting was also the first that commissioners instated security measures. Residents entered the Green Creek Fire Department through a metal detector. Two Polk County Sheriff’s Officers attended the meeting and handled security. The county will pay the officers approximately $85 per meeting.

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