Polk eventually wants NCDOT to take over maintenance of road

MILL SPRING — Polk County signed an agreement this week with Duke Energy to get new lighting along Wolverine Trail. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and approved an agreement with Duke Energy not only to get new LED lighting and poles installed along the road, but also for the new poles to be moved off the roadway. 

Wolverine Trail is the only road Polk County owns in the county, and the current lighting is not far enough off the roadway for the state to take over ownership of the road. 

“Wolverine Trail is used as a cut-through between Silver Creek Road and Highway 108,” said County Manager Marche Pittman. “We are looking for a way to transfer [Wolverine Trail] to the state.” 

Pittman said the road is getting old and will need paving soon. Because the lighting is not at least 10 feet off the state right of way, the road cannot currently be turned over to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for maintenance. 

Pittman said the proposal with Duke Energy will replace the lighting with brand new LED lighting and will also move it the distance for the county to turn the road over to the NCDOT. 

Wolverine Trail is the county’s road that connects Highway 108 and Silver Creek Road in Mill Spring, and gives access to the county’s department of social services, the county’s recreation park and Polk County Middle School. 

Commissioner Vice Chair Myron Yoder asked if the agreement with Duke Energy is the only thing the county needs to do. 

“Right now, this is the least expensive option that we have,” Pittman said. 

Duke Energy’s Betty Aldridge said the estimated monthly charge for the new lighting will be $528.69. She also said the estimated charges are for budgetary purposes only and after a final layout or design has been accepted, a service agreement form will all the charges determined will be provided. 

Pittman said the monthly fee includes everything for maintenance and power. 

“Because they are so close [to the road], we’ve had two of these poles been hit by cars,” Pittman said. “We’re really solving several problems with this project.” 

Commissioner Ray Gasperson added that the big one is getting the NCDOT to take over maintenance of the road.