Posted on by Bill Slagle

December 12, 2025, EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

December 12, 2025
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Grassy Creek Golf Course & Country Club
2360 Swiss Pine Lake Dr
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

  1. CALL TO ORDER
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION – LEE ELLIS
  4. ETHICS AWARENESS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST REMINDER:
    In accordance with the State Government Ethics Act, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearance of conflict. Does any board member have any known conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict of interest with respect to any matters coming before the Board? If so, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrain from any undue participation in the particular matter involved.
  5. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
  6. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (September & October)
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
    1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
    2. Business Park Update – Jamie McMahan
      1. Drone Video
      2. EDPNC SelectSite approval
    3. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
  10. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
    1. Appointment of Patti Jensen to EDC board as Chamber representative
    2. Appointment of Morgan Buchanan as advisory member
    3. Recommendation of Sanford Holshouser as Mitchell Business Park contractor
  11. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
    1. Recognition of Dr. John Boyd
  12. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  13. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

December 12, 2025

The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on December 12, 2025 at 12pm. Present were Bill Slagle, Lee Ellis, Dr. John Boyd, Jon Duncan, Chuck Vines, Allen Cook, Morgan Buchanan, Chris Gentry, Patti Jensen, Amanda Hollifield, Dr. Tonia Hale, Jamie McMahan, and Marley Cloer.

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Gentry called the meeting to order at 12pm.
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION: Lee Ellis
  4. ETHICS AWARENESS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST REMINDER:
    In accordance with the State Government Ethics Act, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearance of conflict. Does any board member have any known conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict of interest with respect to any matters coming before the Board? If so, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrain from any undue participation in the particular matter involved.
  5. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None
  6. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Chuck Vines made the motion to adopt the agenda, Amanda Hollifield seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (September & October): Did not need to approve minutes from October because the meeting did not meet quorum requirements. Lee Ellis made the motion to approve the minutes, Dr. John Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
  10. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
    1. For the month of September, total checking/savings is $623,617.12, total assets, liability, and equity is $624,957.90. Total income is $51,330.87, and expenses are $9,684.57, so then our net income would be $41,646.30 for the month of September. Dr. John Boyd made the motion to accept September financials, Chuck Vines seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%.
    2. For the month of October, total checking/savings is $615,425.36, total assets liability, and equity is $616,766.14. Total income is $1,291.57 and expenses are $9,483.33, so then our loss net income would be $8,191.76. Lee Ellis made the motion to accept October financials, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%. Bill mentions that we have sent in a request for $65,000 from the county, our second half of the budget.
  11. Business Park Update – Jamie McMahan
    1. Chairman of the Business Park committee, Jamie McMahan, shares an update on contractor selection. There were three RFP responses from Civil Design Concepts, Withers Ravenel, and Sanford Holshouser. The board voted on moving forward in the process with Sanford Holshouser. Dr. Tonia Hale made the motion to move forward with the contract, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
    2. The EDC got selected for the drone video program with EDPNC for the site. Bill makes a proposal in saying that it would be beneficial to have drone video with and without foliage. Steps will be taken to see if that’s a possibility.
  12. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
    1. Patti reviews the most recent Chamber events such as the Annual Dinner & App Launch, Spruce Pine Christmas Parade, and of course ribbon cuttings. She announced that the Chamber has a new membership structure and in the new Leadership Circle we have six new members totaling $26,000.
    2. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  13. Appointment of Patti & Morgan
    1. Bill makes the suggestion of appointing Patti Jensen as the Chamber representative for the EDC board, and replacing her as an advisory council member with Morgan Buchanan. Chuck Vines made the motion to move forward with this notion, Dr. John Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  14. Website for the Mitchell Business Park
    1. We are in the process of creating a website exclusively for the Mitchell Business Park. Marley has registered the domain name (mitchellbusinesspark.org) and will meet with David Biddix to discuss the design for the site.
  15. April 2nd EDC Retreat
    1. Executive Director Bill Slagle announces that the EDC board retreat will take place on April 2nd. He reminds everyone to keep their calendars clear for this date.
  16. Bill announced he and Marley are applying to go to SelectUSA in May through EDPNC in Washington DC. He will bring funding options before the board when time.
  17. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
  18. Recognition of Dr. John Boyd
    1. Chairman Chris Gentry took time to show special recognition to Dr. John Boyd before his retirement in January. He presented him with a plaque to show his efforts and appreciation within Mayland Community College and the communities surrounding.
    2. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  19. John Boyd – Had his retirement dinner December 11th and they announced to name the arena the, “Dr. John Boyd Arena” at the Three Peaks Enrichment Center.
  20. Tonia Hale – There will be a new pediatrician coming in March, they are currently at their lowest turnover, and will be working on a business plan for 2026.
  21. Allen Cook – He’s been dealing with FEMA and debris movement. EMS will run county wide.
  22. Morgan Buchanan – New small businesses, North Carolina was named #1 state to do small business in.
  23. Amanda Hollifield – Summer registration for Penland will open in January, they have been provided with $400k for scholarships.
  24. Jamie McMahan – The roof at the new MCHP site will be going on soon.
  25. ADJOURNMENT: Dr. John Boyd made the motion to adjourn, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%