Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Other (indicate in message) Submitted: December 15, 2025 | Updated: December 19, 2025
(December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.
Good evening Kellie, Sandra, Tommy, Kennedy, Marche, (Records Officer / Custodian(s) of these Records),
I reviewed your records request form at https://app.polimorphic.com/react/organizations/polk-county-nc.administration/blueprints/request-a-public-record/apply. However, you have “mandatory” fields required on the form (such as address, first / last name, phone). Please note – by Law, this type of info is not required in order for you to process a public records request. I’d like to suggest again that you amend your form to “require” only necessary fields.
I can’t submit my request to you in your preferred format. Therefore, I’m submitting it to you all directly, as you are the primary custodian(s) of these records, and by Law should now proceed to fulfill the request.
Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which I’m making in accordance with NC Public Records Law. https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
Please provide the names and salaries of all current Polk County, NC employees as of the present day. I consider the term “employee” to mean – anyone employed by and paid as an employee of the County. This should include all full-time / part-time employees, staff, commissioners, elected officials, etc. if applicable. Please provide the following:
1) Employee first / last name
2) Date of hire
3) Position / Title / Department
4) Salary [including hourly wage, hourly rate, or annual salary -- whichever payment structure is applicable to the employee]
Ideally, I’d like to receive the responsive records in an Excel, or other machine-readable format. If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I’m NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to “inspect”, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of this record already exists). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
————————————
Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and clear explanations of those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.
By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
The request has been sent solely by me and my email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Completed
Documents:
Activity:
-
December 19, 2025 10:33 am
6 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 19, 2025, 10:33 AM
subject: Re: Public Information Request – 16Dec25Hi Tommy,
Apologies for the delay,
Thank you for updating the spreadsheet above on 12/16.
Assuming that this now provides everything I’ve asked (“... all full-time / part-time employees, staff, commissioners, elected officials, etc.“), I will now mark the request as Completed on our website.
Have a great day!
Status: Completed -
December 16, 2025 1:15 pm
6 months ago
from: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 1:15 PM
subject: Re: Public Information Request – 16Dec25Please see attached.
Tommy Oakman
Human Resources Officer
Polk County Government
40 Courthouse St.
Columbus, NC 28722
828.894.3301 x224
Polk County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Disclaimer: The content of this message and all attachments are subject to NC Public Record Law. According to the law, all information may be considered public record and subject to disclosure upon request to third parties without prior notification; if you are not the intended recipient of this message, contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your files. I appreciate your cooperation.
** Editor’s Note: Please see the 1 file referenced (We’ve called “[Version 2] Public Records Request – Sunshine Request – Polk County Employee Salary – 16Dec25xlsx“) at top left in our Documents section.
Status: Clarification Provided -
December 16, 2025 11:39 am
6 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 11:39 AM
subject: Re: Public Information Request – 16Dec25Hi Tommy,
Thank you for your message.
I consider the term “employee” to mean: Anyone employed by and paid as an employee of the County. This includes all full-time / part-time employees, staff, commissioners, elected officials, etc.
Can you please clarify whether the spreadsheet provided includes all employees as requested? At first glance, it doesn’t appear to include Commissioners (for example).
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Requested -
December 16, 2025 11:36 am
6 months ago
from: Mail Delivery Subsystem <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 11:36 AM
subject: Delivery Status Notification (Failure)Address not found
Your message wasn’t delivered to [email protected] because the address couldn’t be found, or is unable to receive mail.
WarningThis link will take you to a third-party site
The response from the remote server was:
550 permanent failure for one or more recipients ([email protected]:550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. For more information see https://aka.ms/EXOSm...)
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
cc: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>, Sandra Hughes <[email protected]>, Kennedy Freeman <[email protected]>, Marche Pittman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 11:36 AM
subject: Re: Public records request. (December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.Hi All,
To clarify –
On October 14th, Tommy fulfilled a similar (but different) salary-related request for me.
The new request today asks for “… names and salaries of all current Polk County, NC employees as of the present day. I consider the term “employee” to mean – anyone employed by and paid as an employee of the County. This should include all full-time / part-time employees, staff, commissioners, elected officials, etc.”
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Provided -
December 16, 2025 10:08 am
6 months ago
from: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 10:08 AM
subject: Public Information Request – 16Dec25Please take time to see the following.
Tommy Oakman
Human Resources Officer
Polk County Government
40 Courthouse St.
Columbus, NC 28722
828.894.3301 x224
Polk County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Disclaimer: The content of this message and all attachments are subject to NC Public Record Law. According to the law, all information may be considered public record and subject to disclosure upon request to third parties without prior notification; if you are not the intended recipient of this message, contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your files. I appreciate your cooperation.
** Editor’s Note: Please see the 1 file referenced (“Public Records Request – Sunshine Request – Polk County Employee Salary – 16Dec25.xlsx“) at top left in our Documents section.
Status: Response Received from Government -
December 16, 2025 10:09 am
6 months ago
from: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>, “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sandra Hughes <[email protected]>, Kennedy Freeman <[email protected]>, Marche Pittman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 10:09 AM
subject: Re: Public records request. (December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.Allm
The HR department has responded to the Sunshine Request with the information.
Thank you,Tommy Oakman
Human Resources Officer
Polk County Government
40 Courthouse St.
Columbus, NC 28722
828.894.3301 x224
[email protected]Polk County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Disclaimer: The content of this message and all attachments are subject to NC Public Record Law. According to the law, all information may be considered public record and subject to disclosure upon request to third parties without prior notification; if you are not the intended recipient of this message, contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your files. I appreciate your cooperation.
Status: Response Received from Government -
December 16, 2025 9:23 am
6 months ago
from: Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>, “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sandra Hughes <[email protected]>, Kennedy Freeman <[email protected]>, Marche Pittman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 9:23 AM
subject: Re: Public records request. (December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.Good Morning Kennedy and others,
Thank you for forwarding this email. Automated requests for public information don’t come directly to the HR department. We’re not exactly sure what the requestor is explaining in terms of submitting a request through polymorphic.In terms of the most recent Sunshine Request, the HR department received a request on 10/13/2025 for name and salary effective February 1, 2025 – October 14, 2025. An excel spreadsheet was provided with the requested information on 10/14/2025 to the Sunshine folks in the same format as previously requested and accepted.
If I read the current Sunshine Request correctly, they’re requesting a current name and salary report as of the effective date of this email. The HR department will again gladly respond to their request.
Thank you,Tommy Oakman
Human Resources Officer
Polk County Government
40 Courthouse St.
Columbus, NC 28722
828.894.3301 x224
[email protected]Polk County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Disclaimer: The content of this message and all attachments are subject to NC Public Record Law. According to the law, all information may be considered public record and subject to disclosure upon request to third parties without prior notification; if you are not the intended recipient of this message, contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your files. I appreciate your cooperation.
Status: Response Received from Government -
December 16, 2025 8:46 am
6 months ago
from: Kennedy Freeman <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>, “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sandra Hughes <[email protected]>, Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>, Marche Pittman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 16, 2025, 8:46 AM
subject: Re: Public records request. (December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.Tommy I believe you completed a similar request back in October. Were planning on completing this one as well?
Kennedy Freeman
Clerk to the Board
(828) 894-3301 ext. 239Disclaimer: The content of this message and all attachments are subject to NC Public Record Law. According to the law, all information may be considered public record and subject to disclosure upon request to third parties without prior notification; if you are not the intended recipient of this message, contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your files. I appreciate your cooperation.
Status: Government Processing Request -
December 15, 2025 5:29 pm
6 months ago
from: Mail Delivery Subsystem <[email protected]>
date: Dec 15, 2025, 5:29 PM
subject: Delivery Status Notification (Failure)Address not found
Your message wasn’t delivered to [email protected] because the address couldn’t be found, or is unable to receive mail.
WarningThis link will take you to a third-party site
The response from the remote server was:
550 permanent failure for one or more recipients ([email protected]:550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. For more information see https://aka.ms/EXOSm...)
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: Sandra Hughes <[email protected]>, Tommy Oakman <[email protected]>, [email protected], Marche Pittman <[email protected]>
date: Dec 15, 2025, 5:29 PM
subject: Public records request. (December 2025) Request for Polk County, NC Government: List of all current employees and salaries. As of the present day.Good evening Kellie, Sandra, Tommy, Kennedy, Marche, (Records Officer / Custodian(s) of these Records),
I reviewed your records request form at https://app.polimorphic.com/
react/organizations/polk- county-nc.administration/ blueprints/request-a-public- record/apply. However, you have “mandatory” fields required on the form (such as address, first / last name, phone). Please note – by Law, this type of info is not required in order for you to process a public records request. I’d like to suggest again that you amend your form to “require” only necessary fields. I can’t submit my request to you in your preferred format. Therefore, I’m submitting it to you all directly, as you are the primary custodian(s) of these records, and by Law should now proceed to fulfill the request.
Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which I’m making in accordance with NC Public Records Law. https://www.ncleg.net/
enactedlegislation/statutes/ html/bychapter/chapter_132. html Please provide the names and salaries of all current Polk County, NC employees as of the present day. I consider the term “employee” to mean – anyone employed by and paid as an employee of the County. This should include all full-time / part-time employees, staff, commissioners, elected officials, etc. if applicable. Please provide the following:
1) Employee first / last name
2) Date of hire
3) Position / Title / Department
4) Salary [including hourly wage, hourly rate, or annual salary — whichever payment structure is applicable to the employee]Ideally, I’d like to receive the responsive records in an Excel, or other machine-readable format. If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I’m NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to “inspect”, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of this record already exists). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
————————————
Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and clear explanations of those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.
By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely by me and my email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Sent to Government -
December 15, 2025 5:28 pm
6 months ago
Submitted to Sunshine Request
Status: Pending