Polk County’s new license plate agency that also houses the county tax office will
host a grand opening this Friday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. – noon.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 6 and announced the grand
opening of the facility and invited the public to attend.

The new tag office opened on Sept. 3 and was combined with the county’s tax office.
The new office is located on Walker St. in Columbus, in the former early college
building that originally served as the county’s main library.

Friday’s ceremony is scheduled to include a ribbon cutting, coffee and refreshments
for residents.

Since the Sept. 3 opening, the new license plate agency has completed
approximately 3,300 transactions, according to Polk County Tax Administrator
Melissa Bowlin.

Bowlin said customers have commented that they are glad there is an office in Polk
County so residents no longer have to travel to Hendersonville or Forest City for
license plate services.

The tag office is the first in Polk County in several years and the first office operated
by Polk County government. A private company operated the last license plate
agency, which was located in Columbus.

Polk County was approved by the state earlier this year to operate its own license
plate agency. Commissioners decided to move the tax office into the same building
and cross train employees to do both duties.

The state also plans to relocate its mobile drivers license unit into the same building
sometime next year. Drivers license services are done by the state near the
Columbus Post Office.

Polk commissioner Keith Holbert is credited with getting a tag office located in Polk
County and after its opening recognized the many county employees who worked to
get the tag office opened and tax office relocated.

Holbert has said he thinks Polk having its own tag office will be much easier on
residents, especially the older population.

Holbert also has encouraged Polk residents to use the new tag office instead of
ordering new registrations online, which will shift money from the state to Polk
County.

Holbert said currently the state keeps 2.5 percent for online transactions, money
that would come directly to Polk County if transactions are done in the local office.