Call to Order EDC Meeting/Welcome Board & Guest Chuck Vines
Additions/Changes to Agenda Chuck Vines
Approval of Minutes Chuck Vines
April 28, 2023, Open Session Meeting Minutes Matt Ward
Public Comment Chuck Vines
Financial Report Rob Heffron
April and May 2023, Financial Update
Board Member Appointments Matt Ward
EDC Director Updates Matt Ward
Member Comments Chuck Vines
Adjournment (Next EDC Meeting – July 28, 2023)
NORTH CAROLINA
MITCHELL COUNTY
The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on June 23rd, 2023 at 12:00pm. Present were John Boyd, Darlene Butler, Tonia Hale, Jeff Harding, Rob Heffron, Van Phillips, Charles Vines, Matt Ward
Guests— Leo Williams, Kirsten Rapp, James Biddix
- CALL TO ORDER – Charles Vines, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:04 pm.
- ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA — Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. There were no changes to the June 23, 2023 agenda.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. John Boyd made a motion to approve the April 28, 2023 meeting minutes and Jeff Harding seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
- PUBLIC COMMENTS—NONE
FINANCIALS – Rob Heffron, Treasurer, presented the April and May 2023 financial reports to the board.
April Profit and Loss:
The April 2023 Profit and Loss statement shows the non-routine expenses as the $12,000 item referencing the EDC contribution to update in the EDC conference room to bring it up to modern standards when meeting with possible new business groups interested in Mitchell County. The County Commission invested a similar amount for the project. The interest income totaled $247.24 and $30,000 in funding from Mitchell County restoring EDC to $180,000 per year from the county commission leaving the net revenue of $17,321.90 after monthly expenses.
April Balance Sheet:
The Balance Sheet for April 2023 shows the United Community Bank Assets totaled $492,849.96 with fixed assets of $41,340.78 leaving Total Assets of $534,190.74. This amount equals the total liabilities and equity through April 30, 2023.
That concludes the Treasurer’s report for April for your consideration.
May Profit and Loss:
The May 2023 Profit and Loss statement shows all expenses are routine totaling $9,282.36 falling within the usual $9,000 monthly range. This includes Director Services, cell phone and mileage reimbursement, dues and subscriptions, accounting fees, etc. The interest income totaled $171.80, leaving a net expense of $9,110.76.
May Balance Sheet:
The Balance Sheet for May 2023 shows the United Community Bank Assets totaled $483,739.20 with fixed assets of $41,340.78 leaving Total Assets of $525,079.78. This amount equals the total liabilities and equity through May 31st, 2023.
That concludes the Treasurer’s report for May for your consideration.
BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS
Amanda Hollifield was appointed to the board. John Boyd made a motion to approve and Tonia Hale seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
EDC DIRECTOR UPDATES
- County Commissioners approved the $180,000 request FY2023-2024 EDC Budget
- Website come back to life and updates – adding an industries tab
- Meeting with businesses who have opened or changed management in the past year
- Buck stove – 70 to 110 employees since last Fall
- Tri-County Equipment Rental and Construction Services has been very busy
- Big Al’s Ship and Pack has been busy and will offer new services
- Burnette’s County Store just opened
- High Country Arms (hired full time employee) April was their best month.
- L & L will be expanding into new space and partnering with Buckstove
- Bangkok Station formerly Chill has a new menu
- Helen’s Restaurant – Will open in July
- Bueno Blend – has 3 employees and had a strong year
- Josh Newton – found lower street office space
- MCHP proposed building – integrated health facility
- Bill Slagle, Harris & Dale Carroll – what can we do with quartz and other raw materials
- Pitched supply chain study idea to Carolina West
- Turned them down but would do a letter of support
- Bakersville Bridge with lighting
- Our state magazine full page ad
- Top 25 goals to accomplish and narrow to 5
- Quartz Corp – 20 employees and BRP increased productivity
MEMBER COMMENTS—LOCAL UPDATES
Van Phillips:
- Commons Shopping Center – Auto Zone remodeling
Tonia Hale:
- Piacentino, General Surgeon started 2 weeks ago on June 5th.
- Lyn Shelton, cardiac PA and Dr. James Drake, General Surgeon start in September
- 1 RN resigned since November – great turnover rates
- 10% All Skills turnover rate
- MRI – ribbon cutting – August 24th
Jeff Harding:
- Busy – positive activity going on
- 1st concert – September 1st – Band of Oz—5pm Shag and 7p – 10p concert
- VIP – 6 people available
John Boyd:
- Hotel going well
- Coliseum – plan to accommodate the Mineral & Gem Festival
- October Concert – Hilloween
- End of October – go into construction
- 18 paramedics to RN program – graduate in the spring
- Working with High School – Fire Science Program
- Fire Training Center in ready
- Enrollment is up 20% over prior year (PY)
Darlene Butler:
- Spruce Pine – May 26th – Splash pad at Riverside Park opened
- Brad Ragan – 2 new playgrounds, fence – basketball court, and dog park, walking bridge project
- Libby and Kirsten resigned and will be interviewing for the positions
- Town Council – adopted 2023/2024 budget – will be live streaming upcoming meetings
- Street Scape update
- Grant funding for storm water inventory and assessment
- Billy Summerlin retired – Casey Cook newly appointed.
- Fireworks – Saturday, July 1st
Rob Heffron:
- 1st weekend June – TRAC tour and was successful
- Galleries – Friday, Saturday, Sunday – over 300 in each gallery
Kirsten Rapp:
- Alien Festival successful with ~ 10,000 people attending and ~ $250,000 in sales
- Gastropub sold out / restaurants did very well
- Treasures/ Market on Oak/ Poppy’s – did well but not as busy as anticipated
Charles Vines:
- $2 million water project
- Town wide yard sale – July 1st morning
- Fireworks – July 1st
- Rhododendron Festival went well – over 800 people
- Work in Town Hall
- Visitors Center is busy
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting was adjourned at 12:39pm by motion from Jeff Harding.