Posted on by Bill Slagle

January 23, 2026 EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

 

January 23, 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. Introduction of Mayland President – Dr. Aron Gabriel
    2. Discussion of Regional Partnership
    3. Sibelco Discussion
    4. Presentation of Semi-Annual Report
    5. Mitchell Business Park Update
      1. Website
    6. Marley’s Role Update
  11. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  12. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

January 23, 2026

The Mitchell County EDC Board met on January 23, 2026 at 12pm. Present were Bill Slagle, Marley Cloer, Dr. Tonia Hale, Amanda Hollifield, Patti Jensen, Dr. Aron Gabriel (guest), Curtis Taylor, Daniel Stines, Chuck Vines, Allen Cook, Morgan Buchanan, and Chris Gentry.

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Gentry called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.
  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: None
  6. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Chuck Vines made the motion to adopt the agenda, Curtis Taylor seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chuck Vines made the motion to approve the December minutes, Allen Cook seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
    1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
      1. November – For the month of November, total checking/savings is $606,867, total assets, liability, and equity is $608,207.78. Total income is $1,106.19 and expenses are $9,664.55, so then our loss net income would be $8,558.36 for the month of November. Patti Jensen made the motion to approve the November financials, Dr. Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
      2. December – For the month of December, total checking/savings is $642,610.83, total assets, liability, and equity is $643,951.61. Total income is $66,269.86 and expenses are $30,526.03, so then our net income would be $35,743.83 for the month of December. Dr. Tonia Hale made the motion to approve the December financials, Curtis Taylor seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
    2. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
      1. Patti reminds everyone of the new Chamber app and updated website. She informs them of the new Jobs Board on the website where members can go on and post any positions they are hiring for. She has created a storm resource list and shared it on all platforms for the upcoming winter weather Mitchell County is expecting.
      2. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  10. Introduction of Mayland President – Dr. Aron Gabriel
  11. Discussion of Regional Partnership
    1. Nine counties have committed to the Regional EDC Coalition; Bill recommends to join for the year at $5,000 annually. Amanda Hollifield makes the motion to move forward with joining the Regional EDC Partnership, Patti Jensen seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  12. Sibelco Discussion
    1. Patti sent out a press release about the Sibelco terminations from the EDC and Chamber. Bill discusses the information that was given to him and what he is doing moving forward. He mentions plans for a job fair in the near future as well as directing people to NCWorks for health insurance.
  13. Presentation of Semi-Annual Report
    1. Bill presented the EDC/Chamber Semi-Annual Report to the board of Commissioners on Monday, January 20th.
  14. Mitchell Business Park Update
    1. Bill reached out to David Biddix previously about a website design for the business park but has since then decided to have the website completed internally. People from EDPNC will be here March 12th to shoot a drone video of the site which will be included on the website amongst other platforms. Garrett Wyckoff with EDPNC will visit this day and Bill invited everyone for a luncheon and presentation from Garrett to explain the importance of what this project means for Mitchell County.
  15. Marley’s Role Update
    1. Bill has been accepted to attend SelectUSA Conference in May. Marley will apply next, now that his has been accepted. Bill mentions that he and Marley will begin to look at EDC certification training for Marley through ECU, UNC, or University of Oklahoma, and discuss their options.
    2. Bill proposed a pay increase for Marley’s position. NCWorks has extended her contract until October 2026. He proposed the EDC pays her $1.50/hr for her 30 hours per week. This would bring her at a total of $20/hr. Daniel Stines made the motion to approve Marley’s pay increase, Chuck Vines seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
    3. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
  16. Chairman Chris Gentry discusses a request to change meeting days. He proposes a poll made for board members to vote on preferred meeting days. He and Bill mention that they will need to check the Bylaws first before changing the days. Bill reminds the executive members that a budget for the EDC will need to be prepared by February for the upcoming year.
  17. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  18. Tonia Hale – The hospital has a lot of provider recruits and new doctors/surgeons with a pediatrician coming in March. Remains a very low turnover and great quality.
  19. Amanda Hollifield – It’s slowing down some at Penland; there are roughly 90 artists on campus right now. Summer registration opened last week and they will be hiring seasonal employees soon. Forest service is set to come help clear trees on and around campus. Community Day is at the end of the month.
  20. Curtis Taylor – In the last three months BRP has hired 27 new employees with room for 10-15 more. Been very busy and had lots of new business.
  21. Daniel Stines – There has been lots of leadership change on the FEMA side of things and more success with that, getting closer to obligational funds. Two parks were secured under A&E firms. Public service building to break ground in the Spring and hopefully bridge or park towards end of the year. The town has been very successful in receiving grants.
  22. Chuck Vines – Bakersville is in a holding stage; much more can’t be done until the creek is stretched. They were awarded a $2 million grant for water and wastewater and are in the process of looking for another water source.
  23. Allen Cook – Allen gave a weather update for the upcoming winter storm and informs everyone that this has been declared as a state of emergency. He goes over what to expect and the necessary precautions that should be taken.
  24. Chris Gentry – Chris talks about TQC’s community outreach through the website. People or businesses inquiring about sponsorships will now send in a request for donations via the website and they will be awarded quarterly.
  25. ADJOURNMENT: Chuck Vines made the motion to adjourn, Dr. Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%