Board of Commissioners Work Session

July 17, 2017

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POLK COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ WORK SESSION

Monday, July 17, 2017, 5:00 P.M.

Emergency Management Office, Womack Building

Columbus, NC

MINUTES

PRESENT: Chairman Melton, Vice-ChairmanJohnson, Commissioner Bradley, Commissioner Gasperson, and Commissioner Yoder. Also in attendance were County Manager Pittman, County Attorney Berg, and Clerk to the Board High, staff, media, and citizens.

1.Call to Order – Chairman Melton called the meeting to order.

2.Tourism Development Authority (TDA) – Melinda Massey, Travel & Tourism Director, the Economic & Tourism Development Commission’s (ETDC) executive committee and tourism committee met with the Board of Commissioners to discuss developing a Polk County TDA.

Vince Chelena, Executive Director of the North Carolina Travel Industry Association (NCTIA) explained the history of developing local TDA’s and the guidelines for occupancy tax legislation,a copy of which is incorporated into these minutes by reference.

3. Occupancy Tax – Jana Berg, County Attorney discussed the County’s options in

regards to the collection of occupancy tax and said any changes would be

legislative and would require Columbus, Saluda, and Tryon to work with the

County in requesting the changes. One option is to do nothing and let the towns

collect 3% within their jurisdiction and the County will continue to collect an

additional 3% Countywide. Another option, would be to pursue legislation to

allow the County to collect 6% in the unincorporated areas and3% in the

incorporated areas of the County. However, there are concerns if this option is

even a possibility since there are no known communities in the state doing this

option. The third option would require Columbus, Saluda, and Tryon to each

repeal their current ordinances allowing them to collect their own 3% occupancy

tax within theirjurisdiction, and then the County could request a legislative change

to allow themto collect 6%countywide, including within the town limits.

The consensus of the Board was for Attorney Berg to inquire with the State if all of

these options are viable, and for Manager Pittman to set up a meeting with all

three town managers to discuss these options and their interest in proceeding

further.

4. Adjournment – Vice-Chairman Johnson moved to adjourn the work session,

seconded by Commissioner Bradley and the motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST:POLK COUNTY BOARD

OF COMMISSIONERS

______

Angé High Tommy W. Melton

Clerk to the BoardChairman