Posted on by Bill Slagle

September 26, 2025, EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

September 26, 2025
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
The Quartz Corp Office
138 Highland Avenue
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. Courtney Aycock – Sustainability Manager (The Quartz Corp)
    2. Finance Report – Amanda Hollifield
    3. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
    4. Credit Card Discussion – Jon Duncan
    5. Blue Ridge Parkway Update Zoom Call – 12:30PM
    6. NC Department of Transportation – Tim Anderson & Chad Young
    7. Business Park Update – Jamie McMahan
  10. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  11. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES
  12. ADJOURNMENT

MINUTES

September 26, 2025

The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on September 26, 2025 at 12:00pm. Present were, Jon Duncan, Lee Ellis, Chris Gentry, Dr. Tonia Hale, Patti Jensen, Jamie McMahan, Bill Slagle, Curtis Taylor, Amanda Hollifield, Daniel Stines, Keith Holtsclaw (guest), Marley Cloer (guest), Morgan Buchanan (guest), Courtney Aycock (guest), Van Phillips (guest), Scott Elliot (guest), Tim Anderson (guest), Jason Butler (guest), and Chad Young (guest).

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Called to order by Chris Gentry, Chairman, at 12:00pm.
  2. WELCOME: Chris Gentry welcomed everyone and special guests to the meeting.
  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. Added item 9H to review core values and mission statement.
  7. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Amanda Hollifield made the motion to adopt the agenda, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Lee Ellis made the motion to approve the minutes, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  9. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
  10. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
  11. Courtney Aycock – Sustainability Manager (The Quartz Corp)
    1. Courtney goes over how sustainability and economic development align. She presents a slide presentation and talks about the Quartz Corp community involvement during recovery efforts in 2024. She asks the board for the percentage of flood risk reduction project planning and implementation capacity in our area. They respond that it may be 20-25% and recommend she talk to Allen Cook for more information. Scott Elliot and Tim Anderson chip in to give information on planning and modeling tools to reduce flood risk.
  12. Blue Ridge Parkway Update – Scott Elliot
    1. Van Phillips introduced Scott Elliot from the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western NC to provide an update on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He briefed what GrowNC does and talked about the pillars of recovery efforts. Most of the federal money is going to the most impacted and distressed parts of the Parkway. He wishes the State would do more, and requests are continuing to be put in. He mentioned applications people can fill out for reimbursements and infrastructure recovery.
  13. NC Department of Transportation – Tim Anderson & Chad Young
    1. Tim Anderson joined the meeting to give an update on Coxes Creek. He explains the way they program project is split up into MPOs (metropolitan planning organizations) and RPOs (rural planning organizations). These get to put the project forward and it’s community-based that way it’s the things that are needed based on forecast. There is less emphasis on Mitchell County, more McDowell for Coxes Creek. The NCDOT is allowed to submit points for a project and they submitted this project on Mitchell County’s behalf. Everyone is aware of the safety risks associated with heavy trucks coming down and there are not enough runaway truck ramps. The goal would be to build a project that didn’t require truck ramps. It’s a very expensive project in the realm of realignment. First step would be to do some sort of express design to get a high-level estimate of cost.
  14. Business Park Update – Jamie McMahan
    1. We have received 50k from NCRR, expecting 25k more from the NC Co-op and have requested 150k from Sibelco. Jamie mentioned we are working on putting in an application for the EDPNC Select Site program for due diligence funding. Bill shares that we may not get the tax-exempt status form from Sharon in time for application, and asks about using the foundation as a pass through. Lee Ellis makes a motion to authorize and issue an RFP for Mitchell Business Park, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  15. Finance Report – Amanda Hollifield
    1. Asset Balance for August is $581,970.82. Total liabilities are $583,311.60 and Profit & Loss is $736.44. Total Expenses come out to $24,329.23 which includes the 11k to Halltown. Net Income is -$23,592.79 but that does not report the 50k from NCRR that was deposited on September 12th. That also doesn’t reflect the amount of interest accrued. Jon Duncan makes a motion to approve the financials, Lee Ellis seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  16. Chamber of Commerce – Patti Jensen
    1. Patti introduces the new community app that will be launching at the Annual Chamber Dinner in November. The chamber will be getting a new website, redoing the membership structures, and have sent a request to be a 501(c)(3). Patti reminded everyone of the prayer breakfast and annual dinner coming up. They are applying for a grant through AMY Wellness foundation and are asking to use the EDC’s name on the application since they are in collaboration and it is needing a 501(c)(3). Tonia Hale makes the motion to move forward, Lee Ellis seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  17. Credit Card Discussion – Jon Duncan
    1. Jon talks about issuing a credit card for the EDC with zero interest, for nonprofit, and no personal guarantor. It is recognized that there will need to be an approval of expenses each month and there will be a recommended credit limit based off the financials. Amanda Hollifield makes the motion to move forward, Lee Ellis seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
  18. Mission Statement & Core Values
    1. Jon Duncan makes the motion to approve mission statement and core values, Tonia Hale seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%
    2. DIRECTORS REPORT – BILL SLAGLE
  19. Bill mentions that the EDC is working on a new Facebook account and updates everyone on the visit from NC Secretary of Commerce – Lee Lilley. He informs everyone that the British embassy is awarding monies to any British businesses in Mitchell County. Bill had a meeting with Kerry Construction and they are very interested in development in Mitchell County. They are coming back in October and going to meet with Dr. Boyd, Daniel, and Chad. Bill shares he will be speaking on Monday at Sierra Nevada as part of the economic development professionals panel.
  20. BOARD COMMENTS/UPDATES:
  21. Patti Jensen – She announces the ribbon cutting ceremony for Spruce Pint happening on Friday, October 3rd.
  22. Amanda Hollifield – Penland had their Annual Benefit Auction last month, raised almost 750k in two days in art sales. Almost 400 people were in attendance and they raised roughly 240k for recovery from Hurricane Helene for their water system.
  23. Jamie McMahan – Highest number of patient visits in August and September. Updates that they are continuing to move dirt out on Grassy Creek for MCHP.
  24. Daniel Stines – He announces they sent out tax bills, hired a new finance director, they had a special call meeting on Monday, and had a recognition dinner at First Baptist Church for first responders.
  25. Tonia Hale – She updates everyone on the Hurricane Helene Remembrance Event and remind them of the 70th Year Celebration happening November 6th, the hospital has a pediatrician coming in March.
  26. Curtis Taylor – BRP is hiring, going up by about 15-20 people.
  27. ADJOURNMENT: Lee Ellis made the motion to adjourn, Jon Duncan seconds. All in favor: 100%, All opposed: 0%