Posted on by Bill Slagle

February 26, 2026 EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

 

February 26, 2026
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Mayland Small Business Center
67 Hotel Place
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
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
    1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
    2. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
  10. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
    1. Board Member Terms
    2. Support Request – Mountain Credit Union
    3. Mitchell Business Park Update
  11. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  12. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

February 26, 2026

The Mitchell County EDC board met on February 26, 2026 at 12:08pm. Present were Bill Slagle, Morgan Buchanan, Allen Cook, Chuck Vines, Daniel Stines, Lee Ellis, Dr. John Boyd, Curtis Taylor, Amanda Hollifield, Tonia Hale, Jon Duncan, and Marley Cloer.

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Tonia Hale called the meeting to order at 12:08pm.
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION: Allen Cook
  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. Add item 10D Request for Letter of Support for High Country Water Workforce Initiative
  7. Change item 9A to an Update from Justin Somers and Robin Ramsey
  8. Add item 10E Credit Card Expenditures
  9. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Amanda Hollifield made the motion to approve the additions/changes and adopt the updated agenda, Dr. Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Chuck Vines made the motion to approve January meeting minutes, Lee Ellis seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  11. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  12. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
  13. Update from State Senator Representatives – Justin Somers & Robin Ramsey
    1. Robin Ramsey shared that they had just visited Baptist on Mission’s new headquarters out of Deyton. She announces that they are not running again next year and informed everyone of the congressionally designated spending requests opening soon with a form online for projects. They are holding another Economic Development Summit in Washington D.C. in May.
    2. Justin Somers shares his excitement for future plans of the parkway and working with them to establish signage for the surrounding areas. They have discussed some detour routes with them and they brought in federal highways on that, in which they said it would require a more efficient route. Work is continuing on the parkway and they are looking to open late Fall 2026.
  14. Chamber of Commerce – Marley Cloer
    1. Marley provided an update on the Chamber on Patti’s behalf. She gave an update on the Mineral & Gem Festival for 2026, that they will be able to have it this year. Patti and Bill met with the building inspector and the Three Peaks Convention Center would be an acceptable place to hold the festival. Bill and Dr. Boyd provided more information on the venue and what work needs to be done moving forward. Marley shared that the Candidate Forum held February 19th by the Chamber went well, with about 150 in attendance, and full attendance from local candidates. She informed everyone of the Chamber Golf Tournament on May 18th and encouraged them to join a team and/or sponsor a part of the event. The Chamber held their first Rise & Thrive Business lab this morning in collaboration with the Small Business Center and they have this month’s Coffee & Connect tomorrow morning.
    2. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  15. Board Member Terms
    1. Bill wanted to go over Board Member Terms and make sure they are compliant and up to date. Last year, Dr. John Boyd, Chris Gentry, and Tonia Hale, extended for another year so their terms will go until 2028. This year, Lee Ellis, Jon Duncan, and Amanda Hollifield will have the opportunity to extend. Chris Gentry will not be staying on the board, so someone will need to fill the Chairman position. He asks the board to review the terms and next meeting we will confirm.
  16. Support Request – Mountain Credit Union
    1. Bill shares that he has received a request for support from the EDC for Mountain Credit Union to potentially expand to this territory. They asked for a letter of support from us to go through NC Commerce. Amanda Hollifield makes the motion to send a Letter of Support, Chuck Vines seconds. All in favor 100%, All Opposed 0%
  17. Mitchell Business Park Update
    1. Bill reminds everyone of the meeting on March 12th with Garrett Wyckoff and his team from EDPNC will be there to complete the drone video and give a presentation of the site. He talked to Sanford Holshouser and all the Phase One assessments are complete. June remains the target to be considered a fully-certified site. Bill wants to have a meeting with Buck Stove for the future of the site and their proximity.
  18. Letter of Support – High Country Water Workforce Initiative
    1. Last Summer, Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey entered into an agreement with NC State to look into the water situations. They have found that they are applicable for a $250,000 grant through one of the federal and state programs to recruit wastewater and water engineers. Bill had a conversation with our local representative, Brandon Pitman on the school board. If we happened to be recipients of this grant, they could train up to 40 people to train them to be wastewater engineers and it’ll be paid for. Our income match to this would be up to 6hr per quarter at $100/hr, equaling $2,400. Chuck Vines made the motion to send letter of support, Dr. Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All Opposed 0%
  19. Credit Card Expenditures
    1. Bill shares with the board a spreadsheet of the EDC’s credit card expenses showing, in detail, what each charge is since November for transparency.
    2. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  20. Allen Cook – The County has put something in the newspaper for RFQs related to doing our field design and build out from Helene impacted Bakersville. Finally got the state SMART program working in the Creek in Bakersville and getting that flood risk as Category B as protective measure that protects critical infrastructure. The County has received $11M in debris from help of our elected officials, Senator Ted Budd and Tom Tillis.
  21. Amanda Hollifield – Penland had their Community Day and with that, 475 people in 4 hours. They had $25k in repair from the ice storm
  22. Curtis Taylor – Since November, BRP has hired 37 employees and are back on 7 days a week schedule. They should have a full weekend shift by August, which will bring the plant to full capacity.
  23. Boyd – A restaurant will be opening in the hotel and he is currently working with Stuart Jensen on that process. Dr. Boyd is seeing how Mayland’s culinary program would fit/work with the restaurant.
  24. Daniel Stines – Chuck Edwards awarded $4M to town of Spruce Pine and the SRF Grant for $5M has been approved for a water tank. So far, they have received $15M total for FEMA recovery and hope to have much more coming.
  25. Chuck Vines – Town of Bakersville has been provided a $10M grant to improve water and wastewater systems, they are about halfway through cleaning the creek. Hoping to have a new visitors center in town. Main priority is the roads throughout town and dealing with the NCDOT on that.
  26. Tonia Hale – The hospital has a new pediatrician starting in March, new primary care doctor, new PA in Burnsville and Spruce Pine. They also have an offer to a general surgeon out and another meeting set up as well.
  27. ADJOURNMENT: Chuck Vines made the motion to adjourn the meeting, Daniel Stines seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%