HCDA DECEMBER 2023 BOARD MINUTES

Hampshire County Development Authority

Board Meeting Minutes – December 20, 2023

Taggart Hall Conference Room/Teleconference 10AM

Public is invited to attend by Teleconference:

Dial-In Number: (720) 843-2487

Passcode: 4034389#

Present: Jon Todd Hott, Greg Bohrer, Beverly Keadle, Jason Hicks, Brian Hott, Alison Jewell, David Mayfield, David Cannon, Jeff Richman, Dorinda Stother, Tamitha Wilkins, Cathy Simon. 

Excused: Rebecca Hott, Rebecca Miller, Len McMaster

Guests: Sydney Maurer, Rolf Ronken, Patricia Escoriaza, Hoy Shingleton, Robert Franzen.

Vice President Beverly Keadle called the meeting to order.

Approval of Agenda: Brian Hott made a motion to approve the agenda. Dorinda Strother seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Secretary’s Report – Tamitha Wilkins-Revise previous minutes (December 20, 2023) to change Greg Bohrer as present to the meeting instead of absent or excused. Greg Bohrer made a motion to approve after revision. Brian Hott seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report – David Mayfield – not present at the time. J.T. Hott requested the board members review the financials and asked if there were any questions or concerns.  Seeing none, Brian Hott made a motion to approve the financials. Dorinda Strothers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Marketing Report – Beverly Keadle   

• The marketing committee met and reported that we will have 2 high school interns work in our office to aide with social media to increase our social media presence and other duties for work experience.
• Hampshire on the Horizon – Trying to get FNB as primary sponsor. We have all the instructors and judges set up. Instructors are all out of county residents and counterparts of our director (Jon Todd Hott). We ask for support in spreading the word about this event. Will start taking applications beginning January 1^st, 2024. First classes for business owners will start February 5^th, 2024.

Personnel Report – Tamitha Wilkins – Nothing to report.

Risk Management Report -Tamitha Wilkins – Article in Hampshire Review for prevention of COVID. Numbers rising statewide. Health Department offering flu, COVID and RSV. Submitted a report for review.

President’s Report – No Report.

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Executive Director’s Report – Jon Todd Hott

• FHMH – ESA III results have been received. Property is clear of contaminants. Information shared with BOE. Walk-through was done. Submitted final bill to the state. Resolution is included in the board meeting packet. Payment is $17,369.68 David Mayfield made a motion to approve final payments. Jason Hicks seconded. Motion carried.
• WVSDB-Still in discussion with them about the grant and what their plans are for the future of the buildings on campus.
• Wellness Center/Valley Health – Financial Report submitted for Board’s review. Spoke to county grant writer to see if he can help with assistance via a grant to offer memberships for disadvantaged individuals.
• Aquabanq – Engineering designs are completed. They have requested a change in the covenants for the CBTP. They had to turn a building around in the design in order to allow enough space for loading docks. Article 9, Section 3 of the covenants prohibits us from allowing them to do that.

It is thought to be a reasonable accommodation to make for them. Requesting board to make an amendment to the covenants to make an exception on 1 of 3 of the structures.  Jason Hicks made a motion to approve. with the notification to property owners, with the understanding that the property owners do not have a vote. Request will be made to Aquabanq to include engineer drawings with a requirement to include a green space in between Smokey Hollow Road and the designated loading docks. Dorinda Strothers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

• OmniTRAX/Potomac Eagle – OmniTRAX is now operating the South Branch Railroad as of December 1^st. Director Hott and Robert Franzen attended a meeting with OmniTRAX in Moorefield where they met the team from OmniTRAX as well as the employees of the South Branch Railroad who work in Moorefield. Director Hott accompanied one of OmniTRAX’s representatives around to view sites in Hampshire County from Romney to Green Spring. The representative is going back to his team to put together a plan. Director Hott and Mr. Franzen also talked at length about what Potomac Eagle’s plans for the future. A meeting will be set up first part of 2024 to discuss the Rail Spur project that the State has already proposed to assist with a grant for a feasibility study. Included in the meeting will be HCDA, the Franzen’s and OminTRAX as to how we are going to utilize the property in the Industrial Park. Mr. Franzen stated that they look forward to working with OmniTRAX and the State. Trying to work out the details on where the Potomac Eagle stands. Potomac Eagle is having a good year, looking forward to having around 42,000 passengers. Looking forward to negotiating contract with the State to expand.
• Request from local farmer wishing to lease the land in the Industrial Park for farming. Offered $40 an acre to be able to plant corn and make hay.

Old Business

• WVSDB – Setting up meeting with Melissa Earle of Region 8 to attend with Rolf Ranken and J.T. Hott.
• CBMS – No update.
• Lunch n Learn – January 23^rd, 2024. Changing date to January 30^th. Topic of Marketing.

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• Annual Board Luncheon – Today at noon.
• Hampshire on the Horizon – Accepting applications beginning 01/01/24.
• Photo Contest – Horizon photo submissions.

Strategic Planning Committee – Brian Hott -Board members and some outside sources to meet to

Construct strategic plan for the HCDA.

  New Business

• Infrastructure Meeting January 17^th following Board Meeting.
• Amendment of CBTP Covenants. Discussed.
• Permission to move forward with LED grant submission.
• Offer from Direct Answer – Offer to purchase property in the CBTP and pay off lease purchase on leased building and property. Board requested written bid. Hoy Shingleton stated this is verbal communication and this matter will not be further discussion until review of written bid.

Alison Jewell made a motion to request a written bid for consideration and with a stipulation that if the bid is considered that there be a written understanding that construction must commence before a 6-month period. Jason Hicks seconded the motion. Motion carried.  

• Aquabanq potential purchase of additional property in the CBTP.

  Communications

• List of commercial properties.
• Daycare interest by Robbie Nixon.
• Meeting with Ben Fisher of REV Renewable.
• Introduction of new Board Member. Commissioner swore Jeff Richman in.

  Adjourn– Jason Hicks made a motion to adjourn. David Mayfield seconded the motion.

  Motion carried.   

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