Posted on by Bill Slagle

January 26, 2024, EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

Call to Order EDC Meeting/Welcome Board & Guest

Additions/Changes to Agenda

 Chuck Vines

Chuck Vines
Approval of Minutes Chuck Vines
October 27, 2023, Open Session Meeting Minutes
Public Comment Chuck Vines
Financial Report Matt Ward
October – December 2023, Financial Update
EDC Director Updates Matt Ward
Joint (Chamber, Dev Foundation, EDC) Meeting Topic Matt Ward
Member Comments Chuck Vines
Adjournment (Next EDC Meeting – February 23, 2024) Chuck Vines

 

 

EDC Officers: Chairman, Chuck Vines; Vice-Chairman, Chris Gentry; Secretary, Tonia Hale; Treasurer, vacant; Financials, Sharon Gillespie, CPA’s (CPA Firm)

Contact: Matt Ward, Executive Director: 828-385-1242 Email: EDC@mitchellcountync.gov

NORTH CAROLINA
MITCHELL COUNTY

The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on January 26, 2024 at 12:00pm. Present were, Charles Vines, Matt Ward, Amanda Hollifield, Van Phillips, Jeff Harding, Tonia Hale, Ashley Neisser (Guest), Mandy Polly, Allen Cook, Chris Gentry, Richard Canipe, Darlene Butler, Kelly Jones (Guest), Spencer Bost (Guest)

  1. CALL TO ORDER
    Charles Vines, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:03 pm.
  2. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
    Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. There were no changes to the January 26, 2024 agenda. Jeff Harding made a motion to adopt the agenda and Van Phillips seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. Darlene Butler made amotion to approve the October 27, 2023 meeting minutes and Jef Harding seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
    NONE
  5. FINANCIALS
    Matt Ward, Executive Director, stated October-December financial reports will need to be reviewed with Chase Gillespie and will be presented next month.
  6. EDC DIRECTOR UPDATES
    1. Strong growth was reported in Mitchell County
    2. NC Business Magazine doing a story on Sibelco
    3. Working with Kelly Jones, the new TDA Director, on advertising
    4. Buck Stove is eligible for grant for international trade up to $16k; working with Lowes Canada E. Attended Mountain Community Health Partnership (MCHP) meeting recently.
    5. DHT Grant – $1M
      1. 3 vacant schools
      2. Money for land
      3. Housing assessment study
      4. Broadband meeting coming up on Tuesday
  7. MEMBER COMMENTS-LOCAL UPDATES
    1. Tonia Hale:
      1. Introduced Ashley Neisser, Executive Assistant with Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
      2. Reported a great year with finance, low turnover, patient experience, quality, growth, and community engagement
      3. Dr. James Drake, General Surgeon, and Lyn Shelton, PA are getting settled. Ashley Neisser and Tonia Hale are assisting with provider and community introductions
      4. New services at the hospital include gynecological care, breast and prostate MRI (with new MRI machine), new OB Ultrasound for high OB risk patients, pelvic floor therapy, and cardioversions & TEEs
      5. Made an offer to a Nurse Practitioner for Mauzy Phillips Center—Primary Care
      6. Initial interviews with General Surgeon candidates will be conducted in the next 2 weeks
      7. A donation of $25k has been made to the YMCA
      8. End of year donations include $10k distributed between Mitchell and Mountain Heritage High Schools, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, and Mitchell County Safe Place
    2. Van Phillips
      1. Tag office going in old Sears building
      2. YMCA construction going well. Targeting a June 2025 opening with 10 employees
    3. Chris Gentry:
      1. Growth continues and recruiting for several positions
      2. Housing in Mitchell County remains an issue
    4. Darlene Butler:
      1. Brad Ragan Park
      2. Dog park open
      3. A handicap swing has been installed
      4. Community Grand Opening targeted for Memorial Day
      5. The waterline grant was unsuccessful
      6. Direct appropriation will be the next step to complete the project
      7. Street Scape Grant – will meet with WithersRavenel
      8. Storm Water Grant – will be re-advertised
    5. Mandi Polly
      1. Mountains to Coast ride (Cycle NC) is scheduled for October 5th; anticipating about 1,000 people in the area during that time
      2. WNC Chamber Executives will be here in the Spring
      3. Looking at sending contracts for the Mineral & Gem festivalSmall Business Summits “Access to Capital” will be held on February 12th from 9a-12p
      4. Outdoor Recreation–$2,500 grant was given to create a map of Toe River Valley for AMY counties. Working with Pisgah maps.
      5. Mitchell Historical Society Board is revamping their mission and vision statement
    6. Allen Cook:
      1. Law Enforcement Center underway
      2. An architect is doing design specifications for the Recreation Center
      3. Colby Silver, Emergency Management, is currently in Georgia working on a grant for a mobile command center
      4. License plate agency almost done
      5. Altapass Recycling Center has been upgraded after the fire; due to be complete by the end of February
      6. Mitchell and Avery counties looking to have a combined animal shelter
      7. Ag Extension Center – trying to get Tobacco Trust Find grant and hope to move to Bowman School once vacated
    7. Jeff Harding:
      1. Nothing to report
    8. Richard Canipe:
      1. Nothing to report
    9. Amanda Hollifield:
      1. Submitted 2023 numbers to Matt
      2. Community Day is scheduled for February 24* from 1pm-5pm. There will be studios open to the public as well and meet and greet with the directors at 4pm
    10. Kelly Jones
      1. Kelly Jones was introduced as the new TDA director and with her was Spencer Bost, Main Street Director
      2. TDA received article 44 funds for rentals
  8. ADJOURNMENT
    The meeting ws adjourned at 1:07 pm by motion from Van Phillips