HCDA February BD MINUTES

Hampshire County Development Authority

Board Meeting Minutes

February 18^th, 2026

Brannon #207/#209

 

Present: Brian Hott, David Mayfield, Jaclynn Graybill, Jeff Richman, Alison Jewell, David Pancake, Tamitha Wilkins, Len McMaster, Jon Todd Hott, Cathy Simon.

Excused: Beverly Keadle, Dave Holliday, Jason Hicks, Logan Mantz, Rebecca Miller.

Guests:  Sydney Maurer, Keith McIntosh.

 

Zoom: Olivia Duman, Hoy Shingleton.

 

At 10:00 AM, having a quorum, President Brian Hott called the HCDA Board meeting to order. Following was the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.

 

Approval of Agenda:  Len McMaster made a motion to approve the agenda.  David Mayfield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Secretary’s Report – Minutes from January, 2026 board meeting were presented. Dave Pancake made a motion to accept the minutes as read.  Jeff Richman seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report:  David Mayfield reported on the financials for the month of January 2026. Director Hott commented that the 3 checks for the appraisals have been cut and will be sent to CBRE after check signatures today.  CBCC deficit because of county commission paid expenses.  Jason Hicks requested a footnote on the financials noting under the CB Community Complex Operations. Whereas the county commission gave ARPA money to renovate the CB Community Complex. Staff will contact Adam Carlin. Len McMaster made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. David Pancake seconded the motion. Motion carried.

CD Renewal – Rate from 4.25% to 3.94%. Will take care at New Accounts at FNB.

Marketing Committee Report: Director Hott reported in the absence of Beverly Keadle.

• The HC Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with HCDA, will host a job fair on campus at WVSDB on February 26^th at the Brannon Building Auditorium. More planning is to come. Twenty employers are attending, maybe more. RSVPs are at 16, Facebook account is at 48 that are interested in attending. Hampshire High School will host a job fair March 19th.
• Chamber of Commerce – Jaclynn Graybill (Director-HCCC) and Director Hott reported. Currently 32 paid partners and 68 free members. HC Chamber is sponsoring a monthly educational learning series to businesses who are members of the Chamber of Commerce. Online classes are available as well as in person. First session attendance was 13 participants and second session 9 participants. All positive feedback. Next session will be March 9^th.

The next Chamber event will be a Chamber Breakfast on March 27^th at Slanesville General Store & Restaurant at 8AM.

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• Workforce Development-Working in collaboration with EWVCTC (Lauren Arbaugh), Hampshire High School (Julie Landis) and WVSDB (Superintendent Burch) to get trade classes set up in the county. Goal is to have a welding class at the high school and also to have an electrical and carpentry class on campus at WVSDB. EWVCTC is helping with funding and project coordination as well as HHS. Commissioner Mantz requested Director Hott and Lauren Arbaugh present this pitch to the County Commission for funding, which the County Commission promised $24,000 towards the project. In terms of the electrical and carpentry classes, Clayton Burch and WVSDB has secured funding for these classes. Needed are instructors.
• Meeting next Friday with Shepherd University to discuss the Agriculture and Tourism Programs.
• Hampshire On the Horizon – Fourth class last Tuesday night. We have a confident 10 strong participants. Finale April 21^st.
• Legislative Update – Director Hott communicated with some of the legislators regarding having another event similar to last year. No date yet.
• Business of the Month for February – Rees Sweets & Treats.
• Business of the Month for March – Slanesville General Store & Restaurant.

 

Personnel Committee:  No Report.

 

Risk Management & Safety Committee: Tamitha Wilkins.

• This is the time of year the Health Department is visible in the county schools helping the school nurses. They must do all of their programs that they are required to do per the state. Handwashing in the fall for K-2 and dental now that Dr. Dolly does not do. He is doing the entire county except for Romney. HCHD is doing South Branch Elementary and HeadStart yesterday. March into April will be doing puberty classes for 4^th and 5^th Consent form will be sent home. March, April and May going to the middle and high schools for WV requirements for those entering into 7^th grade and 12^th grade, the shots to give parents the opportunity to get them during school.
• Derek the sanitarian has been very busy. December was heavy with well and septic permits. January slacked off a little bit, but February requests are already where they are during the summer months.

 

Executive Director’s Report & Update-Report submitted for review by Jon Todd Hott.

 

Capon Bridge Tech Park

• Bungee – Shared with them the requirements for purchase of property. Meeting with them next week to discuss with Bungee owners.

• Aquabanq – Communicated that he, A.J. Shapiro, will be at our March Meeting.  Not sure whether he will Zoom into the meeting or be here physically.
• S.J. Morse – David Pancake reported. Accomplished last year getting control of the existing building and assets that Steve Morris owned.  Steve Morris is now retired. That was the risk factor that outweighed the expansion in the park. So, the ESOP now owns all the real estate in Capon Bridge. They have a large warehouse in Winchester presently and the new warehouse will be an alternative space for storage that is planned with one of the production lines to be at the space in Lot 8 of the CBTP.  All the planning and site work that has been done is staying the

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same. All the costs and investment in what that lot will ultimately be is accurate. Got the design, ready to go. Just a matter of pulling the trigger on the project.

• Pro-Refinish – Still interested in property in the CBTP. No update this month.
• DEP Letter – Received a letter regarding the trash pile at CBTP property. Dave Pancake and S.J. Morse said that they would like to help out with getting this cleanup done. Director Hott said that he ordered a dumpster and will be cleaning the area himself next weekend and install a sign. Some trees need to be removed to expose the area from being hidden. S.J. Morse offered to remove the trees.
• Logan Mantz asked Director Hott to formalize the quote from Thrasher regarding moving dirt in order to get some of the property out of the floodplain. Bid was $150,000 and will give 7-8 acres back that is in the floodplain. Hott gave the numbers to Mantz to consider with the County Commission whenever funds are available for assistance.

 

Capon Bridge Community Complex

• Garden of Knead’n – Gave invoice for reimbursement of $2,500.00 (which she earned as 2^nd place winner for HOTH) for floor work. Dave Mayfield made a motion to approve. Len McMaster seconded the motion. Motion passed.
• River House will be moving out of the Community Complex building. Monica Wilson will be leasing that space in addition to another space that she already rents. Wilson will be turning the new space into an art studio. Her plan is to sponsor art shows and serve wine. Must be approved by Parks & Rec as well as the HCDA approval.
• USDA Grant – Submitting invoices.

 

Romney Industrial Park

• Multi-Tenant Building – Notice of pay or quit for one of the tenants. Lease will be sent to Hoy Shingleton for review.

• Potomac Eagle –No report or update. Spoke to Steve Connelly. More than likely the state contract will not be finalized until last summer, early fall. David Pancake, having experience with the state railroad, offered to help communicate with the state regarding the need for the contract to be approved so that the Potomac Eagle can move forward with their plans. Director Hott said he has shared information with the state legislators. What are the 5 major asks for the county? Sharing these thoughts with legislators. One top “asks” would be support for the Potomac Eagle. Must build the data to acknowledge the impact the Potomac Eagle has had on the community. Can contact Lindsay Funk of the WV Division of Tourism to see if they can give support.  Had plans to meet with Funk in Charleston, however, event was cancelled because of snow. Going in March. Pancake stated that there is no longer a State Rail Authority. The one of four pieces of the Inter-Modal group that was formed back in the Caperton days.  Discussion pursued on this subject.  

 

School Street Property

• Demolition – Reclaim on site. Update at Infrastructure meeting. Superintendent Collette sent a detailed report to share with the board.
• ECS – Grant submitted. Waiting to hear.

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Housing Report – No Report.

 

New Business Report

• J&J Grocery – Submitted business plan. Director Hott asked for others to review.
• Strategic Plan – Included in Packet. Update on how effective the plan is being used. President Hott suggested having an annual strategic plan meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS – No Old Business.

 

NEW BUSINESS

• LED Grant Resolution – submitted for signature. Motion was made by David Mayfield to accept the resolution to be included with the LED Grant Application. Jackie Graybill seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENT

• Jeff Richman made suggestions on how to handle the cemetery property.

 

ADJOURN –Len McMaster made a motion to adjourn. David Mayfield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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