► Polk commissioners appoint volunteers to boards

The Polk County Board of Commissioners appointed residents to volunteer boards during its Monday, July 17 meeting. Commissioners unanimously appointed Gillian Drummond to the Polk County Appearance Commission, Aaron Greene to the Consolidated Human Services Board and Don Hofmann to the Isothermal Community College Board of Trustees.

► Polk approves addendum to fire contracts outside of county

The Polk County Board of Commissioners approved annual addendums to contracts with the fire departments of Blue Ridge, Dana and Edneyville. Polk County contracts with the fire departments annually for fire coverage in areas of the county that are located in Polk County, but not accessible from Polk County. Polk gives fire tax money to each of the outside fire departments depending on the values of the homes that need the special coverage.

► Tear down of old Columbus water plant should start soon

The old Columbus water plant will be torn down soon. Columbus Town Council met Thursday, July 20 and heard from town manager Tim Barth that the town is waiting for Duke Energy to move a power line in the way. Once that is done, the demolition should take about a month. The company has three months to complete the demolition. The company has started looking into getting asbestos out of the building.

► Columbus Police Department receives new SUV

The Columbus Police Department has a new SUV. Columbus Town Council announced that the vehicle is now in service during its Thursday, July 20 meeting. The department earns points through the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety program, which paid for half of the purchase and the other half was paid for through the town, with drug seizure funding. The town plans to use the highway safety program points again next year to purchase another vehicle for its police department.