HCDA June 2024 Meeting Minutes

Hampshire County Development Authority

HCDA Board Meeting Minutes

June 15th, 2022 @ 10:00 AM

Taggart Hall Conference Room

Present: President Greg Bohrer, VP-Rebecca Hott, Secretary Beverly Keadle, Commissioner David Cannon, Board Member Len McMaster, Treasurer David Mayfield, Board Member Alison Jewell, Director Eileen Johnson, Board Member Brian Hott. HCDA Administrative Assistant Cathy Simon.

Guests: Sydney Maurer (Hampshire Review), Rick Hillenbrand (guest), Ben Lambert (FNB), Rachel Beachy (FNB), Christine Cooper (FNB), Rick Schneider (Radio Romney), A.J. Shapiro (Aquabanq. Inc.) via Zoom.

President Bohrer called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. announcing a change in the agenda to reflect:

10:00 a.m. Presentation by A.J. Shapiro with Aquabanq. President Bohrer introduced Mr. Shapiro to the Board and guests.  

10:30 a.m. – HCDA Executive Session Meeting – Board Members and by invitation only.

11:00 a.m. – HCDA Regular Session Meeting.

President Bohrer approved the change in the agenda as amended. Brian Hott made a motion to approve as amended, McMaster seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Presentation: A.J. Shapiro, Chief Financial Officer for Aquabanq, Inc. presented the concept of his business via Zoom meeting. Aquabanq, Inc. is interested in purchasing property at the Capon Bridge Technical Park. Others joining the Zoom meeting were Kunkle, Shingleton, Miller, and Escoriaza.

10:30 a.m. The Board of Directors and invited guests went into Executive Session.

11:00 a.m. The Hampshire County Development Authority resumed with the regular monthly (June) meeting.  Miller, Hicks and Escoriaza joined via conference call.

REPORTS

Secretary’s Report –Keadle made a motion to approve the minutes from April 20^th (Regular Board Meeting) and May 11^th (Special Session). McMaster seconded. Motion carried. 

Treasurer’s Report – Mayfield presented the Treasurer’s Report.  Brian Hott made a motion to approve as presented. Jewell seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Marketing – Rebecca Hott. The Marketing Committee met on June 9^th. Remaining marketing budget for 2022 into FY 2023 is $12,104.17. Plans for the remaining balance is to use it for the installation of a sign at Romney Business Park for the Multi-Tenant Building that will cost approximately $2,500.00. Region 8 donated furniture for one of the offices that is going to be used in the business incubator. Cost was $500.00 to pick up, haul and deliver. The remaining balance will be used to pay the remainder of the LoopNet contract ($1,896.00). leaving around $9000.00 balance. Plans for this remainder is to procure consulting services for maintaining and updating our website. We are looking for a group that can help in creating a marketing strategy and incorporate our county HUB Zone, video marketing and virtual property tours into the website. We are hosting a Romney Business Park and Multi-Tenant reception and

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meeting June 30^th at 5:00 p.m. The proposed marketing budget for 2023 is $11,000.00. Our strategy is

for a website maintenance contract; incorporating work completed by the Eastern WV Alliance into the

Website. And to create a strategic marketing plan with our designed goals as well.  For the Business Incubator, Region 8 is currently involved to aid in a possible grant for renovations. We need to procure funds to include the rail extension with the Business Incubator Project as one grant.  

Personnel Committee– Keadle. Discussion in Executive Session.

Risk Management & Safety Committee – Report from Wilkins, HC Health Department included in the board packet for review.

President’s Report –Met with Valley Health to do final walkthrough on the abatement project which will be finalized. President Bohrer acknowledged the effort the HCDA Board has put forward to get the project to this point.  More discussion in New Business.

Former HMH Abatement Project/ DEP Brownfield Revolving Abatement Project, Phase 1&3 Director Johnson reported. The letter of credit through the bank was fully executed. Draw #2 for expenditures and the date tied to that project is in process. That will bring us up to date as far as any expenditures tied to Phase 1 Abatement. Environmental Walkthrough and Substantial Completion on June 8^th. Board members Bohrer and Keadle were in attendance with Director Johnson. When Phase III begins, there will be an overlap in work, such as abatement of the crawl space and any SBOCs that are identified are going to be happening the same time as the contractor on-site for the demolition to expedite getting the project done and the site completely cleared.  The grass was cut on the former HMH grounds. Hopefully, it will not have to cut again before demolition begins. Escoriaza added that different areas were visited during the walk-through. An Inspection Report document was submitted with the Certificate of Substantial Completion.  The overlap of Phase II & III simultaneously will help in minimizing the timeline.

CDBG Demolition & Final Brownfield Remediation – Director Johnson reported.  The required Archeological 1 Study was completed and SHPO responded very timely and gave clearance to move to the next step. The project will be going forward as HCDA as Project Manager, Region 8 as Administrator, HC Commission as Project Owner. There is a lot of coordination that has to take place. Thrasher has been selected as our approved engineering partners. Angie Curl from Region 8 will get this particular project added to the County Commission’s agenda so as documents and the project progresses there’s a timeliness in getting these things executed so that the project can move forward in getting the site completely demolished.

Timeline will go as follows:

• On 06/22/22 they published the finding and the request for comments on the A1 and documents on this project to date.
• 06/23/22 – Public comment will begin and end in 15 days.
• 07/08/22 – Documentation and public comment and any RVPs will be submitted to the CDBG Project Committee and to the state where they will allow 16 days for public response. That will end on 07/23/22.
• 07/24/22-State will release the funds to us for the project which will allow us to move forward aggressively with getting the contractor on board and be able to process expenditures associated with contracting.

Early to Mid-Fall expected to have the building down and lot cleared. Timeline will be shared with the BOE so that they can have and update. Patricia Escoriaza added her comments.

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Executive Director’s Report & Update – Report submitted for review.

In addition, ongoing and new discussion tied to daycare in the county. Catholic Charities held a roundtable this past month. They brought different sectors of the community together how they might be able to partner with this initiative. Discussions will be ongoing.

We have a new prospect that is interested in making an investment in the county for independent and assisted living (private sector). Director Johnson has been working with Buc Hammer with SBDC and

this was a lead directly from Mr. Hammer’s office. This investor is looking at the Hampshire County western part of the Eastern Panhandle as a location for this. We facilitated a site tour with a building on the WVSDB campus on June 14^th, 2022.

Business and Retentions – Highlights are:

• Gina Jordan and Scott Thomasson of Gina’s Soft Cloth Shop business retention meeting. They hired 4 full-time employees, need 3-4 more and are working with the Small Business center to be able to potentially stage a job fair. This might be something we expand since working in the county, everyone is looking for labor. They restructured operations. Since their expansion they are parent company being The Soft Cloth Shop, Inc., Gina’s Soft Cloth Shop and now Romney Cut and Sew. Romney Cut and Sew is at the location at the Romney Business Park. They have invested $25,000 in equipment purchases, operational upgrades and additional labor, and received a glove contract. They are a 51% woman owned business which allows them priorities with different governmental contracts and opportunities. The 49% that is left is tied through Scott Thomason as primary, but have 2 additional operating partners.  
• A prospect that has interest in the Business Park is a consulting business from Maryland. They focus on government contracting and cyber security for government. Interested because of being in the HUBZone. Meeting with them on June 24^th.
• US Cellular Update–Met with Tom Scirotto (a site selecting company hired by US Cellular). They have interest in the Romney Business Park. Commissioner Cannon met with Director Johnson and Mr. Scirotto to visit the property. Primary site of choice is Romney Business Park even though they have considered other sites. A tower would help bring fiber into the RBP and benefit existing tenants as well as would be a recruitment tool to develop the rest of the park. Commissioner Cannon commented that the county is willing to work with them to enable a good relationship for the tower project to move forward.
• The CBTP Access Road has been approved by the state and recorded. The name of the road is Technology Park Road. Waiting for the final reimbursement from the state in the amount of $51,337.92, which is necessary to pay off the final phase of the financing for the interim loan to close it out. Meantime, we have made since May $75,000 payments towards that debt. Still owe $46,806.73. When reimbursement arrives, this will pay off the loan entirely.
• CBTP Property Sale – S.J. Morse, Lot #8 will close on June 17^th.
• Town of CB Sewer Improvement Project – Project runs on two contracts. Contract 1 is extensions within the town itself and a new plant. It is about 85% complete. Expected to final complete February 3^rd, 2023. This date set because of supply chain issues with getting a generator that will arrive in January.  Contract 2 involves the CBTP, collection system and pump station. At about 85% complete to date. Would be complete at the end of August, however, because they cannot decommission the existing package plant, even though it is nonfunctional, until the rest of the project has been tested and there is a Substantial Completion done, it has to stay and is the last piece of the project.  The final completion date for Contract 2 is October. We can market our property as a full-service park. Efforts are being put forward for transfer of utilities to CHPSD. Both legal and accounting for both entities are working to make that happen by October.
• Water Telemetry Project – Project was completed. The final payments are pending from the county. The county will make those payments to the vendor. The HCDA requested $720.00 to

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cover the maintenance costs of the monitoring of the system of the two locations in the CBTP. It

was requested to the vendor to bill the county an annual fee so it would be easier to take care of.

• Romney Business Park Lot 1 – Project is on pause because we cannot move forward until the site is re-surveyed. Rick Moreland and company are waiting for a lull in their schedule to do the survey to get the lot out of the flood plain with a LOMR from FEMA.
• Business Incubator – Business incubator, rail line expansion and roof replacement is very complex. Tapping into different sources of funding to get the projects completed will probably
• be a combination of a loan and grant combination or multiple funding sources. In conversations with Region 8 what we are looking at funding sources such as ARC, EDA and USDA Community Facilities. And looking at a RUS component. The project might have to be redefined in multiple scopes.
• Former HMH – There are artifacts that we are compelled by SHPO to try to preserve. Valley Health has reached out to schedule a walk-through. They want to develop a plan as to how to get what they want out and timeline for that. One item is the cornerstone on the building.

Old Business – Covered in reports.

New Business:

*Nomination Committee – McMaster and Mayfield volunteered to remain as a committee. Keadle made a motion to establish a nomination committee to elect new officers or members. Jewell seconded. Motion carried.

*Resolution to Approve HCDA FY2023 Operating Budget. Mayfield commented on some changes noticed in the new budget. Biggest change is $170,000 for the Multi-Tenant roof. Brian Hott made a motion to approve the budget as presented. Dave Mayfield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

*Resolution – DEP BRF Loan 2^nd Draw Request-Mayfield made a motion to approve once communication from the DEP, and once documents are signed, funds will be received via EFT. Keadle seconded the motion. Motion carried.

*Resolution – Substantial Completion of HMH Abatement Project – Phase 1 (pending receipt of documents from engineer).  Mayfield made a motion to approve. McMaster seconded the motion. Motion carried.

*Motion regarding property sale in the Capon Bridge Technology Park – Brian Hott made a motion to approve sale of property to S.J. Morse. Dave Mayfield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Communications:

• Rick Schneider from Radio Romney announced the station is on air Monday through Friday. Located at 74 East Main Street, Romney. He gave an invitation to tour the studio. A grand opening will be tonight 5-7PM. He asked that everyone spread the word about the studio

             and for contributions for support.

• Commissioner Cannon received a broadband update from Aaron Cox. He offered copies to anyone interested.

Adjournment

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