Posted on by Bill Slagle

April 23, 2026 EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

April 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 (February & March) – Amanda Hollifield
    2. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
  10. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
    1. Board Member Terms
    2. Approval & Selection of Officers
    3. Business Park Update
  11. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  12. CLOSED SESSION – G.S. 143-318.11
    1. Director’s Review
  13. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

April 23, 2026

The EDC board met on April 23rd at 12pm. Present were: Bill Slagle, Morgan Buchanan, Chris Gentry, John Boyd, Beth Holmes, Daniel Stines, Tonia Hale, Lee Ellis, Allen Cook, Patti Jensen, Marley Cloer, Curtis Taylor, Jon Duncan, Keegan Anderson (guest), and Morgan Bradley (guest).

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Gentry called the meeting to order at 12:02pm.
  2. WELCOME
  3. INVOCATION: Morgan Buchanan
  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
    1. Add item 10C, Presentation from Keegan Anderson (Mayland Community College)
    2. Add item 11D, Recommendations for advisory committee and board
  6. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: John Boyd made the motion to adopt the agenda and its changes, Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Lee Ellis made the motion to approve the minutes from March, John Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  9. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
    1. Financials – Amanda Hollifield
      1. For the month of February, total checking/savings is $604,893.48, total assets, liability, and equity is $606,234.26. Total income is $1,077.46 and expenses are $9,807.47, so then our loss net income would be $8,730.07 for the month of February. Lee Ellis made the motion to approve the February financials, John Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
      2. For the month of March, total checking/savings is $591,246.55, total assets, liability, and equity is $592,587.33. Total income is $1,219.86 and expenses are $14,866.79, so then our loss net income would be $13,646.93 for the month of March. John Boyd made the motion to approve the March financials, Dr. Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
    2. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
      1. Patti provided an update on the Chamber golf tournament, encouraging people to sign up teams and asking for volunteers. She announced the dates for the NC Mineral & Gem Show this year (July 30 – August 2) and the finalization of using the Three Peaks Convention Center to host the show. The Chamber has had several ribbon cuttings the month of April.
    3. Keegan Anderson – Mayland Community College
      1. Keegan Anderson gave a presentation introducing Mayland’s collaboration with Good Jobs WNC. This initiative will listen to industry providers on their needs in the workforce and help to provide students with the correct skills and training to meet their specific industry needs, and therefore fill those open opportunities. Their top three educational program highlights are: Nursing, Dental Assisting, and Medical Assisting. Their areas of interest include: Registered Nurse, Radiologic Technician, and Dental Hygiene.
    4. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
      1. Board Member Terms
        1. The board discussed their terms and who is set to roll off this year. The discussion concluded that Tonia Hale and Amanda Hollifield would be good to stay for one more year and Chris Gentry will be rolling off the committee.
      2. Approval & Selection of Officers
        1. Boyd makes the motion to move Curtis Taylor up from advisory committee to the board, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
        2. Tonia Hale nominates Jon Duncan as Chairman, Lee Ellis seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
        3. Lee Ellis nominated John Boyd as Vice Chair. The board discussed the capability of Curtis Taylor serving as Vice Chair since he was just brough onto the board. Tonia Hale makes the motion to appoint Curtis Taylor as Vice Chair, Dr. Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
      3. Business Park Update
        1. Bill and Marley received the first draft of the drone video of the Mitchell Business Park and showed it to the board and advisory committee. We asked for any critiques and/or changes needed to the video and received good feedback to send to Shanta at EDPNC to adjust. Due diligence is in progress and on the right track to meet our June deadline.
      4. Recommendations for Advisory Committee and Board
        1. Chris Gentry recommends Courtney Aycock to serve on the Advisory Committee. Tonia Hale made the motion to add Courtney Aycock to the advisory committee, Dr. Boyd seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
        2. Bill Slagle recommends Cris Gardener to serve on Advisory Committee. Lee Ellis made the motion to ass Cris Gardener to the advisory committee, Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%
    5. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  10. Boyd – Talked more about the usage of Three Peaks Center for mineral and gem show and progress with restaurant in the hotel
  11. Beth Holmes – Fire on the Mountain Festival this Saturday
  12. Daniel Stines – Several FEMA meetings, and awarded a $5.5M grant for wastewater an water aside from FEMA; $20.5M in grant money total, new building inspector started Monday
  13. Tonia Hale – A new Pediatrician started at the end of March, as well as two new primary care and a new PA, Top 10% Award – best ED over all in performance metrics
  14. Allen Cook – County has two new ambulances, Paramedics needed, working on field restoration for recreation fields, Bowman offices being worked on to create office space, and working on County budget
  15. ADJOURNMENT: John Boyd made the motion to adjourn the meeting, Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor 100%, All opposed 0%