Hampshire County Development Authority
Board Meeting Minutes
August 21st, 2024 @ 10AM
Taggart Hall Conference Room/Teleconference
Public is invited to attend by Teleconference:
Dial-In Number: (720) 843-2487
Passcode: 4034389#
Present: Rebecca Hott, Beverly Keadle, Tamitha Wilkins, Dave Mayfield, Brian Hott, Len McMaster, Jeff Richman, Alison Jewell, David Cannon, Dorinda Strother, Jon Todd Hott, Cathy Simon.
Guests: Sydney Maurer, Rolf Ronken, Rick Hillenbrand, Hoy Shingleton, Nick Carroll, Jeff Pancione, Denise Hott, Ed Morgan.
Excused: Rebecca Miller, Jason Hicks.
VIA Conference: Jason Hicks, Brian Brill of Parks & Recreation.
Transfer of Property for the Former Hampshire Memorial Hospital/Romney Elementary School. Documents were signed for the Property Conveyance for the Former Hampshire Memorial Hospital by the Hampshire County Board of Education, Hampshire County Commission and Hampshire County Development Authority. All bodies have signed documents to pass resolutions authorizing all transactions. Documents were executed today at the meeting. Ed Morgan, President of the HC Board of Education, David Cannon, County Commissioner and Rebecca Hott, President of the HC Development were signers.
Approval of Agenda: Beverly Keadle made a motion to accept the agenda as amended. Brian Hott seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Secretary’s Report – Tamitha Wilkins. Beverly Keadle made a motion to approve the minutes from July 17th, 2024. Len McMaster seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report – David Mayfield reported.
Jon Todd Hott commented about new expenditures such as IndentTOGO (fingerprinting), SEDC (charge for conference) and reimbursement credit. Tamatha Wilkins made a motion to approve the financials. Jeff Richman seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Marketing Report – Beverly Keadle
- Lunch n Learn – Next event will be September 24th, 2024. Chelsea Ruby (WV Tourism) and Mitch Carmichael (Former Secretary of WV Department of Economic Development). Topic will be “How Tourism Plays a Role in Economic Development in a Rural Community”. Marketing Committee will write the agenda, monitor registrations through EventBrite, write a program, flyers, collect donations for door prizes, etc.
Personnel Report – Tamitha Wilkins – No Report.
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Risk Management & Safety Report -Tamitha Wilkins reported.
- HC Health Department has been very busy in the month of August working with the Board of Education with back-to-school vaccinations, Open House with Head Start, and other programs.
- Tracking animal bites – An animal was destroyed after being tested positive for rabies by the Sheriff’s Department.
- Well and septic permits are high and continue to stay high.
- August was Summer Harvest Festival and the sanitarian inspected temporary food vendors, mobile food vendors and vendors who already have permits.
- Mobile unit is still being built. Completion late October, early November.
Lance Construction was awarded the construction contract for Health Dept. addition. A meeting will be held tomorrow for pre-construction.
President’s Report – President Rebecca Hott. She reported she is happy the final documents have been signed for conveyance of the hospital property. Other items will be discussed next in Director’s Report.
Executive Director’s Report – Jon Todd Hott
- Wellness Center/Valley Health – Financial Report submitted for Board’s review. Up 100 new members.
CBTP
- J. Morse – Still working on the engineering portion of the build. Groundbreaking late fall.
- Aquabanq – Shapiro wants help in selling tax free bonds to finance the Project. Commissioner Cannon and Hoy Shingleton have spoken to different entities to gain information about the bonds. It was determined for the HCDA to reach out to attorney specializing in bonds. County Commission will select its own bond council according to Shingleton. Lengthy discussion pursued. More information forthcoming.
- Direct Answer – Moving forward with closing on property at 414 Smokey Hollow Road, Capon Bridge. Hoy Shingleton prepared an additional 3-page document for board review. Because when the property was originally purchased, the acreage that went with the building was 4.43 acres. There was a plat that was done that spelled out the 4.43 acres. Back in 2006/2007, the plat was never filed with this description. Technically, the way the lot is laid out now, Direct Answer has the building plus 5.76 acres. One option was to resurvey to get it to 4.43 acres or another option was to sell it to Direct Answer and charge for the additional acreage (1.3 acres). It was agreed for Direct Answer to purchase the additional acreage. Direct Answer will pay an additional $29,000. All proceeds from the sale of the property will go towards debt. Brian Hott made a to approve the Option Agreement. Dorinda Strother seconded the motion. Motion carried.
- Former Capon Bridge Middle School/Capon Bridge Community Center –Director Hott reported, per Parks & Rec, that the County Commission approved the contractor bid to repair the roof early September. Still have the issues to consider for electrical, plumbing, doors, windows, etc. We have 2 sources for funding, Region 8 and the WV Grant Resource Center that are looking for grants for this project. Once funding is found, they will be a resource for helping to write the grant. They have asked us to focus on particular issues within the building. Director Hott spoke to Logan Mantz and there has been progress on the funding for School Street that runs directly in front of the Former CBMS, and sidewalks for the Town of Capon Bridge.
Nick Carroll, Parks and Recreation was present for additional information regarding the property. He
stated $152,000 was approved by the County Commission for sections of the roof of the building, but
not the old gymnasium. The gym flooded as well as several classrooms, and the kitchen during
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Hurricane Debby. The Parks & Rec inspected the area and found the water damage was beyond more
than mentioned. Carroll asked what would be necessary to protect the structure. He stated that they
have formed a fundraising committee and was hoping to receive a grant. Carroll stressed the urgency
at the Capon Bridge town meeting. Long term goal is to hand over the business side of the project to
the HCDA. They want to run the gymnasium and the field and have the business side handed over to
another entity. Leases were on an annual basis, and now on a 6-month basis. Carroll stated that the
P&R has not been able to keep up with the maintenance and upkeep of the building. Carroll offered
to answer questions and to see where they are with giving the option to the HCDA for operation of the
rest of the building around January of 2025. Carroll said he would send information when requested by
the HCDA and to cooperate with the HCDA with anything necessary. HCDA requested a business plan.
Hampshire Wellness Center – Report included for review.
- Strategic Planning Committee – Brian Hott will email date and location.
- Multi-Modal/WVDOT – Seven drawings/plats were presented to OmniTRAX for review. We want to accommodate and make sure everyone is happy with the decisions made of what drawing/plat is accepted and agreed upon.
- Move to new office end of August, early September. Still need office furniture. Future board meetings will be held at the IRC Conference Room on the campus of the WV Schools for the Deaf & Blind.
- Alison Jewell stated Farmland Protection will be meeting at the IRC instead of Taggart Hall.
Old Business
Repayment of Brownfield Revolving Loan – The County Commission was approached by the
HCDA to negotiate repayment of the loan. Options are to either allot more quarterly funds or
to take over payments. Director and President Hott will present at next month’s County
Commission Meeting. Amortization schedule is included in the board documents for review.
Payments will be taken out of the Hospital account for payment beginning September.
New Business
- Former Capon Bridge Middle School-More issues need to be addressed. Does HCDA want to take over the building as of January 1st, 2025? More information was requested, such as a business plan.
- Capon Bridge Bulk Water Station – Aaron Cox contacted HCDA to ask for 15 truckloads of fill dirt for the CB Bulk Water Station at the Tech Park. Hoy Shingleton advised to make sure insurance is secured.
Communications – NONE
Adjourn– David Mayfield made a motion to adjourn. Dorinda Strothers seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
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