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Polk County lowers pool fence requirement, raises two pay grades and authorizes small equipment purchases
Summary
The county approved a zoning text amendment lowering residential pool fence height from 5 ft. to 4 ft., created a new E911-4 pay grade and raised the Code Enforcement Officer pay grade; the board also added $9,000 for three patrol camera systems and approved a $44,153 vehicle purchase and a grant application for rescue equipment.
At the Sept. 3 Polk County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board approved several regulatory and compensation changes and authorized modest equipment purchases.
On zoning, the board voted 3–2 to approve TA24-01, a Planning Commission-recommended amendment reducing required pool fence height at single-family properties from 5 feet to 4 feet (community pools such as subdivision or recreation park pools remain excluded). Commissioners Ray Carter, Jordan Hubbard and Chuck Thaxton voted in favor; Commissioners Linda Liles and Gary Martin opposed.
On compensation, Police Chief Kiki Evans requested increasing the Code Enforcement Officer classification from PD-1 to PD-2 to assist recruitment; that change would raise the annual salary for the position from $44,793 to $48,966. Although the Human Resources Department did not recommend the increase, the board approved the change on a 4–1 vote (Commissioner Thaxton opposed). Separately, 911 Director Tandra Owens asked the board to create an E911-4 pay grade for the Assistant 911 Director position to raise the starting pay from the previously approved grade 18 ($46,868) to $48,853 in order to account for overtime and a TAC supplement; the board approved that change unanimously.
The Finance Committee’s recommendations to amend Board of Equalization pay rates to match Board of Assessors rates were approved, and the board added three inoperable police patrol vehicle camera systems to the FY2025 Capital Improvement Plan and Capital Fund 340 for $9,000 to replace existing units. The board also approved purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado for Animal Control off state contract for $44,153; reuse of the retired vehicle’s box by City Body Works will save an estimated $14,000 compared with buying a new box. Fire Chief Michael Hanuscin received approval to apply for a Norfolk Southern Safety First Grant to buy rescue lift air bags for up to $15,000; the grant requires no match but the county would cover any shortfall if the full amount is not awarded.
These actions change compensation and capital purchasing authority at the department level. Human Resources and department heads provided context during the meeting, but no ordinance-level changes were proposed beyond the zoning text amendment. Implementation details will be handled by the county’s HR, 911, police and procurement staff.
