April 26, 2024, EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

Call to Order EDC Meeting/Welcome Board & Guest                  Chris Gentry

Additions/Changes to Agenda                                                                 Chris Gentry

Public Comment                                                                                              Chris Gentry

Approval of Minutes                                                                                       Matt Ward

February 23, 2024, Open Session Meeting Minutes

Approval of Minutes

February 23, 2024, Closed Session Meeting Minutes

Approval of Minutes Open Session Meeting Minutes

March 22, 2024, Open Session Meeting Minutes

Financial Report                                                                                              Matt Ward

March 2024 Financials

March 2024 Chamber Financial Report

Proposed FY 2024-2025 Budget and EDC Structure                 Matt Ward

Member Comments                                                                                      Chris Gentry

Adjournment (Next EDC Meeting – June 28, 2024)                      Chris Gentry

NORTH CAROLINA MITCHELL COUNTY

 The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on April 26, 2024 at 12:00p.m. Present were, Chris Gentry, Matt Ward, Darlane Butler, Mandi Polly, Van Phillips, Jeff Harding, Allen Cook, Richard Canipe, John Boyd and guest Leo Williams.

  1. CALL TO ORDER – Chris Gentry, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:01
  2. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA- Chris Gentry asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. There were no changes to the April 26, 2024 agenda. John Boyd made a motion to adopt the agenda and Jeff Harding seconded the motion. The motion passed
  3. PUBLIC COMMENTS-NONE
  4. APPROVAL OF MlNUTES- Chris Gentry asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. There were not changes to the February 23, 2024, open session meeting minutes. Darlene Butler made a motion to adopt the meeting minutes and Van Phillips seconded the motion. The motion passed

Chris Gentry asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. There were not changes to the February 23, 2024, closed session meeting minutes. Jeff Harding made a motion to adopt the closed session meeting minutes and John Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chris Gentry asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. There were not changes to the March 22, 2024, open session meeting minutes. Van Phillips made a motion to adopt the meeting minutes and John Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously

FINANCIALS – Matt Ward, Executive Director, presented the EDC Balance Sheet for the month of March. Total Current Assets of $537,843.67 and Total Fixed Assets of $41,340.78 leaving Total Assets of

$579,184.45 in United Community EDC accounts. This amount equals our Total Liabilities and Equity through March 31, 2024.

The March Profit & Loss Statement reflects Interest Income of $260.59. This month there are various expenses listed the Advertising total $1,100 was full page ad in the Toe River Valley Destination Guide, Director Services total $17,577.68 and $22,500 Chamber of Commerce total relating to our MOA agreement. The expense will cover Chamber related operations and activities to promote small businesses. Leaving total expenses of $41,573.38 and resulting in net income loss of $41,312.79 for March. Jobn Boyd made the motion, and Jeff Harding seconded the motion to accept the financials as read. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Matt Ward, Executive Director, presented the Chamber of Commerce Balance Sheet for the month of March.

The Chamber of Commerce Balance Sheet for the month of March shows Total Current Assets of $39.450.39. Total equity of $60,886.78 in m Bank account with $39,450.39 as total Liabilities and Equity through March 31, 2024.

The March Profit & Loss Statement reflects total Income of$27,666.70. This month expenses listed are total office supplies and miscellaneous $436.24, payroll expenses $7,509.98 with a total expense equaling

$8,404.78 promote small businesses. Resulting in $19,261.92 as net income. John Boyd made the motion, and Van Phillips seconded the motion to accept the fmancials as read. The motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. PROPOSED FY 2024-2025 BUDGET AND EDC STRUCTURE-The director presented $120,000 for FY2024-25. This is a reduction of$60,000 from the prior year. The County budget workshop is April 30, 2024. John Boyd made motion to accept the budget and Van Phillips seconded the motion. The motion passed

Tabled the decision on EDC structure as a non-profit status. Director will find out if we can pick up where we left off back in 2020 or start approval process.

EDC DIRECTOR UPDATES

  1. The Appalachian State University Outdoor Recreation User Survey is complete. Popular activities in Mitchell County include nature viewing, fishing, and day hiking. The average amount spent on a Mitchell County trip was $578.
  2. Latest employment numbers show Sibeleo with 488, Walmart 230, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital 300- 350 based on seasonality. Top 3 employers are Sibelco, Board of Education and
  3. MCHP will break ground by end of year. Sometime around May 10 they should have their construction firm selected.

MEMBER/GUEST COMMENTS-LOCAL UPDATES

Darlene Butler:

    • Brad Ragan Park Grand reopening Friday prior to Memorial Day wrapping up grant activity to include trail entrance, pool slide, etc
    • May 3 is streetscape kick off meeting with engineers.
    • Stormwater mapping project has started.

Leo Williams:

    • Recruiting for general surgeon and primary care
    • New contrast enhancement mammography project to be completed in 18-20 weeks
    • Continuing to focus on employee satisfaction.
    • Upcoming Mitchell High School event.

Mandi Polly:

    • Tonia Hale and EDC Director added to the Chamber of Commerce executive committee.
    • The Chamber Board members are reviewing and revising current bylaws.
    • Sent three CPA firms contract request to conduct Chamber financials. Hope to hire a firm soon
    • 4 new Chamber members, Blue Ridge Tacos, Trinity Car Sales, Hopscotch Primary Care and Jack’s Locksmith. NCOA ribbon cutting today at 4 p.m.
    • Conducted TDA, Chamber, Spruce Main Street, BAMA and EDC quarterly meeting.
    • Active Excel spreadsheet used to document and keep track of business visits. Visited well over 20 businesses last month.
    • Meeting with Morgan Wood to developing ideas on a new event with business plan.
    • Chamber membership resource guide in bulleted format posted on the website.
    • Coordinating with SP BBQ Festival and Cycle NC for the NC Mountain to Coast ride in October. BBQ Festival is also working on obtaining music. Will present to Town of Spruce Pine Board.
    • Ready to offer 2 employees visitor center position on weekends.
    • Sandi Buchanan will stay on with the Chamber.
    • Separate Mineral and Gem Festival committee as well as bank account has been established.
    • Finishing up Food Lion building contract for Gem Festival
    • One platinum member, Sibelco has provided funding. Working with Penland and The Quartz Corp to determine their sponsorship abilities.
    • Rhododendron Festival preparation for June.
    • A previous contract with Visit NC of $6,320 had to be paid out of Chamber budget. It was a valid contract that was required to be paid.
    • To date there is $15,000 worth of booth rental for Mineral Gem Festival.

Jeff Harding:

    • Both businesses are very this Spring season. Down one employee but rest of the crew has continued to complete work.

Allen Cook:

    • Attended regional County Commission meeting in Avery. Our mountain area regional challenge for each county is workforce housing and the counties are sending that message to Raleigh.
    • Busy time of year, budget workshops, end of fiscal projects and day to day operations.
    • May 1 is bid opening for Mitchell County Recreation Center. 3 bids are required. Hope to start construction work starting July 1.
    • Carbon Reduction Grant was approved for a new 5′ sidewalk connecting P&R to Mitchell High School.
    • Road widening at middle school intersection will take about 6-8 weeks.
    • Law Enforcement Center should be completed by October.
    • Mitchell County is building up recreational facilities to help retain our youth.

Richard Canipe:

    • Blacksmith Festival this Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Largest vendor participation in
    • City Drive In and 640 on Oak will have live music and tee-shirt

Van Phillips:

    • No comments

John Boyd:

    • May 14 signing Aspire ceremony with ASU to help our students be prepared to attend ASU after Mayland. This will be a co-admission agreement between Mayland and ASU.
    • Nursing national accreditation was approved.
    • Enrollment is up especially because of the paramedic to nursing program.
    • Hotel curb and gutter completed this week.
    • Bids due today for pavement.
    • YMCA is moving fast.
    • Toe River Beekeepers area established on main campus.
    • This fall students can take Firefighter I and II in the afternoon block schedules.
    • Wit Tuttell, Visit NC executive director stayed at the Blue Ridge Boutique Hotel and attended an event at Planetarium and Observatory.
    • ARC planning grant submitted for supply chain and product development. Sibelco provided match funding, Mayland provided funding and in talks with The Quartz Corp. Around 13 entities have signed letters of support in anticipation of the planning grant award.
    • Mayland College is ranked #2 as most affordable NC community college mascot is now Highlanders representative of a Highland Cow.

Chris Gentry:

    • Van Phillips and Richard Canipe announced they will be coming off the EDC
    • Provided appreciation towards Mr. Phillips and Mr. Canipe’s dedication and support to the EDC Board for helping make the county

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT-The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m. by motion from Van Phillips.

September 22, 2023, EDC Agenda and Meeting Minutes

EDC Board Meeting Agenda

September 22, 2023, 12:00 p.m.

Mitchell County Admin Building, EDC Office

 

Call to Order EDC Meeting/Welcome Board & Guest

Additions/Changes to Agenda

Approval of Minutes

August 25, 2023, Open Session Meeting Minutes

Public Comment

Financial Report

August 2023, Financial Update

BAMA Grant Request

EDC Director Updates

Member Comments

Adjournment (Next EDC Meeting – October 27, 2023)

EDC Officers: Chairman, Chuck Vines; Vice-Chairman, Chris Gentry; Secretary, Tonia Hale; Treasurer, Financials, Sharon Gillespie, CPA’s (CPA Firm)

Contact: Matt Ward, Executive Director: 828-385-1242 Email: EDC@mitchellcountync.gov

MINUTES

September 22, 2023

 NORTH CAROLINA

MITCHELL COUNTY

 The Mitchell County EDC Board met in person on September 22, 2023 at 12:00pm. Present were, Charles Vines, Matt Ward, Amanda Hollifield, John Boyd, Jeff Harding, Tonia Hale, Allen Cook, Chris Gentry, and Darlene Butler

  1. CALL TO ORDER – Charles Vines, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:01 pm.
  2. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA — Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. There were no changes to the, September 22, 2023 agenda.
  3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Charles Vines asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes. Chris Gentry made a motion to approve the August 25, 2023 meeting minutes and John Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  4. PUBLIC COMMENTS—NONE
  5. FINANCIALS – Matt Ward, Executive Director, presented financial reports to the board.
  6. The August Profit and Loss Statement:As of August 31, the profit and loss statement show all expenses to fall into the usual routine categories – Accounting, cell, director services, meals, mileage reimbursements, office supplies.

Additional expenses were AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) dues of $517. After expenses and Interest Income and reimbursement of $268.77 there is net income of negative $8,921.43. This is due to no income except the interest income earned.  As we go through the rest of this year this will continue to be true.  The year-to-date numbers show net income of $80,279.96.

August Balance Sheet:

The Balance Sheet for August 2023 shows the United Community total current assets $544,776.78 and fixed assets of $41,340.78 leaving Total Assets of $586,117.56. This amount equals the total liabilities and equity through August 31, 2023.

BAMA is requesting $7,500 which has increased from $5,000 historically. John Boyd made a motion to approve the request and Chris Gentry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

EDC DIRECTOR UPDATES

  • MCHP is moving forward on new facility. Anticipate adding more jobs with the new location.
  • Met with PRC’s real estate agent and an investor on workforce housing. Due to investor quote of $300 per sq/ft. to build a quadplex, PRC will be looking at other options.
  • Continuing the 12-week training investment framer program offered through Mountain Bizwork.
  • A buyer will be closing on the Former Pizza Brewery property at Oak Avenue.
  • Shared hotel feasibility study with John Sandler.
  • Received 2 sheets on top 25 things from EDC members.
  • Recruiting several restaurants to look at former Burger King and Hardees.
  • Presented to the Sibelco Community Collaboration last Friday.
  • Segway into my UNC School of Government class on October 6th which will teach us the following topics: Strategic approaches to affordable housing, Affordable housing tools and financing mechanisms, How to assess local housing needs, case studies and exercises, and immediate next steps.
  • The Our State editor plans to do an article about rural mountain treasures.
  • New county map being funded by Made X Mtns. Starli McDowell presented to interested locals about creation of the new county map.
  • Attended the NC 100 Northwest Prosperity meeting in N. Wilkesboro.
  • BAMA has submitted 2023-2024 grant request.
  • Encourage Josh Newton to participate in Spruce Pine’s Main Street Downtown Entrepreneur Assistance Program (DEAP).
  • Matt Ward will get quotes for the lighting on the county signs. Chris will check into different options.

MEMBER COMMENTS—LOCAL UPDATES

Tonia Hale:

    • Blue Ridge Regional Hospital received a 5-star CMS rating.
    • Blue Ridge Regional Hospital received Pathways to Excellence re-designation.
    • The Joint Commission made an unannounced visit and we had no clinical findings.
    • Blue Ridge Regional Hospital welcomes new providers, Dr. Valentino Piacentino (General Surgeon), Dr. James Drake (General Surgeon) and Lyn Shelton, PA (Cardiology).
    • New services: MRI, General Surgery, and Cardiology procedures: TEE’s, cardioversions, and calcium scoring.
    • A new podiatrist will be onboarding in the 1st Quarter 2024.
    • Digestive Health Partners will be coming weekly which will add more days for those needing colonoscopies.
    • Gynecology surgeries will begin in October.
    • ECU Dental plans to start doing dental surgery after the first of the year.

Allen Cook:

  • Young McQueen for site development for Mitchell Recreation Center; work out rooms and walking track
  • Hickory Construction selected for the Law Enforcement Center. Mosely Architect will design and plan to start in 60 days.
  • Working on fixing Altapass Recycling Center and looking at the recycling profitability.
  • Building Inspector interviews in progress, but not Level 3.
  • Departmental training on safety, CPR, first aid, and drug awareness.

Chris Gentry:

  • Ample construction and is actively recruiting many positions

Darlene Butler:

  • Park upgrades: basketball, pickleball, tennis, dog park, and 1-mile trail
  • Main Street hired Spencer Bost as the new Director
  • In search of Public Works Director
  • Grants – RFQ for street skate plans and for stormwater assessment and grant planning coming up.
  • EDA Disaster grant—applied for a waterline grant
  • Town of Spruce Pine is considering Non-Residential Standards Ordinance
  • Police Department working on 2nd canine drug dog

Jeff Harding:

  • Bowman School Project: next 8-12 months

John Boyd:

  • The hotel is in it’s 3rd landscaping layer process; working on installing fire pit
  • Certificate of Occupancy received for the Resource Center for Entrepreneur.
  • YMCA secured the needed funds for it’s 30,000 square foot project; guaranteed maximum price received. Construction begins at the end of October
  • Animal Shelter received funds for Avery County
  • EDA grant – last round for culinary program
  • Parking lot being built behind the planetarium
  • Enrollment has increased at Mayland Community College
  • Spooktacular October 26th 5-7pm

Amanda Hollifield:

  • $500K raised from the benefit auction
  • Contracted with Stitch Design – 50 beds for instructors and students
  • Meetings with Harley for sidewalks for safety
  • TRAC – November 10-12
  • New Exhibits in Spruce Pine
  • Apple Butter Festival – October 20th -21st

Charles Vines:

  • Paved 5 most traveled streets, 6 more to go
  • DOT has agreed S. Mitchell Ave. belongs to them and will need to extend the road
  • Bowman School Project – current building needs to be repurposed
  • Housing – none for sale but will support expanding housing
  • Trick or Treat – October 31st 5-7pm

Darlene Butler:

  • Treasures in Fall – October 14th
  • Rocktober Festival – October 7th
  • Hilloween – October 26th
  • Trick or Treat – October 31st

ADJOURNMENT –The meeting was adjourned at 1:06pm by motion from Jeff Harding.

Respectfully Submitted,

 

______________________________     September 22, 2023

Charles Vines, Chairman                       Date

_______________________________    September 22, 2023

Tonia Hale, Secretary                              Date