Polk County commissioners approve airport funding boost, FY25 CIP and personnel policy changes

Chairman Hal Floyd and the Polk County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 6 to increase the county’s funding commitment for the proposed Airport Line of Sight Project and to approve a package of budget, personnel and procurement measures.

The board approved increasing the county’s Landfill Fund commitment for the Airport Line of Sight Project from $275,000 to $350,000 — an additional $75,000 — to meet a federal match after construction costs rose, Commissioner Gary Martin moved and Commissioner Linda Liles seconded. The board also approved the FY2025 Capital Improvement Plan, with funding drawn from SPLOST revenue, landfill revenue and Capital Fund 340.

The board adopted an amendment to Polk County Code Section 2.504 limiting meal reimbursements for travel: lunch will not be reimbursed for single-day travel within 40 miles of Cedartown, and meals (including breakfast) will be reimbursed only for the second and subsequent days of authorized overnight travel. Commissioner Gary Martin asked how often the policy had been abused; staff did not provide a total number during the meeting.

The board also approved changes to the Polk County Personnel Policy (Sections 17 and 22) that make falsifying or unauthorized editing of employee time records grounds for disciplinary action and clarify how time off is used around county-paid holidays.

Other votes taken included: increasing daily pay for Superior Court traverse and grand jurors from $25 to $40 per day; approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) for FY2025 under which DFACS will use a portion of its fund balance; authorizing the Police Department to apply for the Field Initiative Encouraging Innovation Grant (which could provide up to $1,000,000 for CID equipment); and approving a lease with 3DZ, LLC (d/b/a Sky Dive Georgia) at the Polk County Airport to begin Sept. 1, 2024.

The board suspended Polk County Code Sections 2-282 and 2-283 for FY2025 solely to allow timely purchase of fire apparatus because current lead times on delivery are approximately two to three years. The board also approved surplusing 12 Scott Air-Paks and 24 cylinders for donation to the Borden Springs, Alabama Volunteer Fire Department contingent on a liability release, and accepted an annual $40,000 donation from Advent Health Redmond to assist in funding E911 dispatcher positions.

Commissioner Ray Carter moved to amend the budget for Capital Fund 340 to reconcile completed projects and restore savings from those projects; Commissioner Chuck Thaxton seconded and the motion passed. The meeting record did not specify the dollar amounts involved in that amendment.

County Manager Matt Denton had no comments during the Manager’s Report. In commissioner comments, Commissioner Martin said he was glad there had been no executive session; Commissioner Carter warned that overtime budgets would be strained and said a called meeting would be needed to approve the Board of Education millage rate; Commissioner Jordan Hubbard thanked attendees; Commissioner Linda Liles reminded residents that schools were starting; and Commissioner Chuck Thaxton congratulated Polk County native Brody Malone on winning a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympics in Paris. Chairman Hal Floyd thanked county employees and fellow commissioners.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions during the meeting passed unanimously.

The board adjourned following the commissioners’ remarks.