Polk County commissioners set hearings for a five-year fairgrounds operating levy; resolution approved

The Polk County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 24-13 on Dec. 11 to begin the public hearing process and publish notice for a proposed local-option operating levy for the Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center that would be placed on the May 13, 2025 ballot if subsequent hearings authorize placement.

Chair (name not stated) described staff’s recommendation—attributed to Mr. Hansen—to place “a local option tax operating levy measure on the ballot for May 13, 2025 to operate and maintain the Polk County Fairgrounds And Event Center.” The proposal as described to the board would set a levy amount not to exceed 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for a period of five years and directed that Resolution 24-13 set public hearing dates and authorize publication of the hearing notice.

An unidentified commissioner moved to proceed with Resolution 24-13 and a second was recorded. The chair called for the vote and the motion was approved; the transcript records a series of “aye” responses from commissioners and the motion was recorded as passed. A commissioner clarified that placement on the May 13 ballot would occur subsequent to the public hearings established by the resolution.

The motion establishes the formal public process: staff will publish notices and the board will hold hearings (the chair mentioned Jan. 8 as an initial hearing date with both morning and evening sessions). No levy ballot language or revenue estimates were presented in detail at the meeting; the resolution sets the hearing process in motion rather than adopting the levy itself.

Other routine business at the Dec. 11 meeting included approval of the meeting agenda, approval of prior minutes, and recognition of employees for length of service.