Changes made to policy means no more meetings unless called
A new policy is being put into place in order to allow for more full discussion of spending items coming before the Polk County Board of Commissioners for full votes.
So instead of holding committee meetings and letting two commissioners recommend items for a full vote, now the county will be holding these discussions during their work sessions.
Board chair Marshelle Thaxton said he was reversing a policy he said he helped expand some 8 years ago because he felt that it was “trying to get the board to work together more and have no secrets.”
“We’re going to try meet- ing again this way and see how long the process goes in the meeting and just try it, and see if we can’t move along with all of us discussing issues at one time,” Thaxton said.
However, some committees will be getting together to meet.
Thaxton explained that areas like the Finance committee, which already had a purpose to meet on Jan. 24, will still get together.
That meeting was on the calendar with a landfill agreement funding amendment to discuss according to County Manager Matt Denton.
He said the amendment, separate form the overall conversation about closure and post closure to come for the Polk County Commission, was being discussed because changes are required in the annual calculations already i n place in the agreement for how much money needs to be set aside by Waste Industries in a letter of credit to ensure closure bills could be paid by the county.
“The change will also give us the freedom to determine how we can invest that money, define inflation rates and interest rates that need to be updated,” he said. “There’s a lot of math behind how we make these calculations.”
He also said that with the change in policy by Thaxton t o only call meetings as needed, he said the county will “have to try and see if we can handle as much business as possible through the monthly meetings.”
As chair, Thaxton also has the authority to make committee appointments, which some changed in 2017.
The Public Safety committee was changed to vice chair Stefanie Drake Burford and Chuck Thaxton.
Burford was shuffled off the Public Works committee as Chuck Thaxton moved into that spot as well.
He also took up the spot held by Ray Barber on the Animal Control Committee.
At least one committee will still have to meet at least twice a year by law.
The Airport Maintenance Committee with Scotty Tillery and Hulsey will have to meet biannually based on the county ordinance governing the airport.
Chuck Thaxton also took over the ex-oficio spot on the Polk County Water Authority board as well.