The Polkton Town Commissioners discussed whether to get into the grave-selling business during its meeting on Oct. 5.
A representative from the Williams Cemetery committee approached the commissioners, following up on the committee’s request last month that the town take control of the cemetery. The committee had cited its members’ elderly ages and lack of new, younger members as the reasons it wants to deed the property over.
Amid commissioner concerns about upkeep, unmarked or poorly-marked older graves, and other concerns, the commissioners had initially tabled the matter during the September meeting. The committee spokesman asked the commissioners again to schedule a public hearing to receive input from the community. Despite the commissioners’ reservations about accepting the cemetery responsibilities, they scheduled a public hearing for immediately before the November meeting.
Police Chief Matt Norris asked the commissioners to consider approving his attendance an an upcoming free instructor class at Richmond County Community College. The 80-hour class would take up his days for two weeks, but completion would allow him to teach all in-service classes except for firearm classes for his department and others, rather than depending on other agencies’ training schedules, he said.
The commissioners moved the discussion about the class into a closed session that followed the open meeting.
The police chief also said he turned in the majority of the paperwork needed for a pre-application for a grant that, if received, would pay up to 75 percent of the entire cost of building a new police department building. The commissioners need to decide soon whether to pursue the project, Norris said. He will have a meeting about the grant in two weeks, then the commissioners will make their decision after that meeting.
Norris also provided the town’s police report. In September, the police were busy: the department received 399 calls, 16 vehicle accidents, and issued 28 citations.
The commissioners unanimously voted to donate $100 to United Way and $500 to a Peachland-Polkton Elementary School fundraiser.
The commissioners’ next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2. The public hearing on the cemetery will be held at 6 p.m. just before the meeting.