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POLK COUNTY–At its meeting on Monday, the Polk County Board of Commissioners discussed fire inspection responsibilities and a memorandum between Polk and Rutherfordton Counties regarding emergency services.

 

County Manager Marche Pittman informed the Board of the interlocal agreement between the Town of Tryon and Polk County for Fire Safety Services. The agreement, first introduced in December of 2022, states that Polk County would conduct fire inspections for the Town of Tryon. 

 

While Tryon has been conducting its own fire inspections, Polk County is already handling fire inspections for Columbus and Saluda. Tryon asked the county to handle its inspections as well, as it doesn’t have the staff to perform these inspections. Polk County has a Level 3 certified inspector while Tryon has a Level 1 inspector, Pittman says. 

 

The inspections will be performed by the Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office and will include businesses, churches and schools. The Town of Tryon will reimburse Polk County $50 for each inspection. The motion to approve the agreement as presented passed unanimously.

Also at the meeting, Polk County Attorney Jana Berg briefed the Board on the addendum to a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding between Polk County E-911 Communications and Rutherfordton County E-911 Communications. The addendum lays out a plan for Polk and Rutherford Counties’ emergency services to act as a backup to one another in the event that one or the other cannot operate.

Polk has similar agreements with all of its bordering counties, in case of an emergency in which one of the neighboring counties requires assistance, and vice versa.

“Polk has sent units to assist Rutherford County as well as Henderson and Spartanburg, as well the same counties have sent units to assist Polk,” said Polk County Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Bobby Arledge. “We have a good working relationship with our surrounding counties and it is good to know they are there if we need them, and we are there for them as well.”

The addendum expands a plan that was previously in effect, extending it until June 30, 2024, and has already been approved by Rutherford County. The motion to approve the addendum was approved unanimously.