Leroy Peugh, standing, inquired about presenting an air show at the Polk County Airport during the Polk County Board of Commissioner’s meeting. (Agnes Hagin/thepolkfishwrap.com)
Both items were presented during the board’s Monday work session and Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Leroy Peugh, delegate, proposed hosting an air show at the Polk County Airport.
Peugh said he is interested in an air show due to potential business and introducing it to the public.
“We do have a facility dedicated to air traffic,” he said.
Chairman Cleve Hartley directed him to work with Manager Matt Denton to develop his idea. More details will be presented at a later date.
Commissioners also revisited the proposal to utilize a local work detail instead of the one now provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC).
Commissioner Phillip Bentley said he still believes a local detail would be a more efficient and cost saving service.
The plan discussed includes the following:
Candidates would be screened and selected by Probation during pretrial.
The program would be phased in for about 6 months.
Estimated cost would be about $80,000 annually. This compares with the $39,500 now paid to GDOC.
Brad McFall, county attorney, said he has discussed the idea with Judge Richard Sutton and Polk County Sheriff Kelly McLendon.
Manager Matt Denton said McLendon is agreeable to a county inmate labor program but that he would need:
Renovation of an old pod — upgrading the plumbing, electrical and paint.
Two full time deputies to supervise the inmates and two full time jailers to supervise the pod.
Inmates serving on the detail would be housed in a pod separate from the general jail population and would wear different uniforms.
Instead of the local work detail, Commissioner Marshelle Thaxton suggested hiring 10 more people at the Polk County Road Department. He said the new hires could be trained and assigned to different jobs.
No action was taken, but the board indicated it would continue to consider the proposals.
Other business
The group also heard a report that clearing has begun for the new firing range, estimated to cost $245,000. They approved the recommendation of the Public Works Committee (PWC) to move forward with erosion and sediment control measures and install drainage structures and piping. Total cost would be $78,000.
Commissioners also approved PWC’s recommendation that a bid for a surplus bulldozer ($15,600), from J.H. Benefield & Sons, be approved.
The following recommendations from the Public Safety Committee were approved:
Replace 13 handguns and 27 shotguns used by the police department at a cost of $8,210.73.
An existing agreement between Polk County and the Water Authority for the installation and maintenance of fire hydrants with an amendment that will reduce the budgeted total from $110,000.
A lawn mower for the sheriff’s department from Complete Equipment Company at a cost of $7,472
Carl Melear, Georgia Forest Commission, also presented the board Polk’s wildfire portion of a hazard mitigation plan.
He said the plan allows eligibility for grant funds if there is a wildfire emergency. In 2009, Polk was second highest in Georgia in number of fires generated, according to Melear.
Can't we put more money into good things?
Our town also maintains a SWAT SUV and some new Dodge Charger police cars. Does that seem excessive to anyone?
I know there has been a drug problem but a WHOLE lot of money has been spent and I don't know how much safer it makes us. I mean good they will maybe clean up a lot or maybe most of the drug problem. After that what?
Also 245,000 for a new firing range? How bad do we need a new firing range right now?
I can't get them to pick up an old couch off the sidewalk but we need all this?