HCDA NOVEMBER 2025 BD MINUTES

Hampshire County Development Authority

Board Meeting Minutes

November 19th, 2025

Brannon #207/#209

 

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

Excused: Rebecca Miller.

Guests: Sydney Maurer, Rick Hillenbrand, Olivia Duman, Keith McIntosh, Rick Hillenbrand, Hoy Shingleton.

 

Zoom: Jason Hicks, Rolf Ronken.

 

At 10:05 AM, having a quorum, President Brian Hott called the HCDA Board meeting to order. Following was the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

 

Appointment of New Board Member: Tim Reece not approved by County Commission to be placed on the Economic Development board.

 

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

Presentation: Retail Strategies/Lacey Baccus

Presented Hampshire County and community statistics.  Grocery store is the main gap in the economic

strategy of the community.

 

Olivia Duman from Region 8 was introduced. She is interested in attending our meetings.

 

Secretary’s Report – Minutes from November 19^th, 2025 board meeting were presented.    Len McMaster made a motion to accept the minutes as read.   Jeff Richman seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report:  Director Hott reported on the financials in the absence of David Mayfield. Kunkles and Carlin had a Zoom meeting to kickoff handing the accounting and financials to Carlin in the event of the Kunkle’s retirement at the end of the year. To answer a question regarding the balance sheet that Jason Hicks asked was adjustments to assets. Adjustments to assets are recorded on an annual basis. CB Community Complex report not included because bills have not been submitted to pay as to date. Have not heard from the USDA regarding grant for CBCC.  Jeff Richman made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Len McMaster seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

 

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Marketing Committee Report: Beverly Keadle presented.

• Chamber of Commerce – Director Hott reported. First Annual Chamber of Commerce Member Christmas event December 11 at the Bottling Works. Jaclynn Graybill (also a HCDA Board

member), who is the Director of HC Chamber of Commerce reported that there are presently 80 members.

• Lunch N Learn – AgriTourism event on hold until first part of 2026. Focusing on Workforce Development more now. December 15^th there will be a job fair hosted by the Brew Station for the Chamber of Commerce for contractors. In the near future with collaboration from different entities such as WVCorr, and Julie Landis to name a few. There are plans to sponsor another job fair for laborers. In addition, a job fair will be held at the Brannon Building, tentatively for February on a larger scale. Plans are to hold it at a later time in the day to encourage high school students and adults and give them the opportunity to attend.
• Workforce Development – Working with Lauren Arbaugh at EWVCTC and Hampshire County Schools and Clayton Burch at WVSDB, we are going to have 3 classes that will begin in August 2026. One will be at the high school for welding and will be open to HHS students, D&B students and also the public as a whole. It will allow you a 12-week class to get certified. Same thing will be at WVSDB that will offer electrical and carpentry classes. Planning has been for figuring out locations, instructors and funding. EWVCTC is taking the initiative on the credentialing and curriculum. Technically, the cost for the classes is $2,200. However, with state grants, the cost per adult participant will be $200.

Featured Businesses are as follows:

• December – Potomac Eagle
• January – Garden of Knead’n.
• February – Rees Sweets & Treats

 

Personnel Committee:  No Report.

 

Risk Management & Safety Committee: Tamitha Wilkins.

• In flu season. Recently got first confirmed cases of Influenza A.
• Currently have patients with confirmed RSV in the county.
• Health Department is vaccinating for flu and RSV and trying to get the word out.
• Have a few COVID test kits, but probably will be exhausted with those by the first of December.
• Going to Capon Bridge every quarter to a doctor’s office to learn what is needed.
• Going to the Senior Center each week, specifically for blood pressure checks.
• WIC for lead testing through a grant that allows free lead testing.
• Renovations completed and currently putting in heaters at the 911 Center and are moving heaters at the Health Dept. Going through punch list for anything else that may need repairs from the renovations.

 

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

Capon Bridge Tech Park

• S.J. Morse – Got $600,000 loan approved by the state and installed a new sander to approve efficiency in their business.

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• Aquabanq – Met Riley Keaton and spoke about Aquabanq. Said he would reach out on our behalf to A.J. Shapiro. No update.

• Garden of Knead’n – Very close to opening pending a final health inspection. Capon Bridge Glass has to pour a walkway yet. Was hoping to open before Halloween. May be closer to December for opening. Exciting to see improvements to the building.
• USDA Grant – Awarded for grant. Government is shut down. Still no word.
• Romney Business Park – Soft Cloth owes October, November and December.
• Potomac Eagle – No update. Business of the Month for December.

 

Old Business

• School Street Demolition –Abatement period to start end of this week and run until December 3^rd with demolition starting first of the year.
• Assessment Grant Status – Back into office. Lots to catch up on. Waiting to hear what funds are available.
• Annex Building Update – at HC Commission meeting yesterday, the MOU was amended. Building has been transferred to HCC. Deed has been executed. Hoy has drafted a sample lease for consideration. Mantz’s recommendation was to have a long-term lease with a ninety-day clause in it on behalf of both parties to renegotiate the lease if for example the Sheriff’s office wanted to move locations in the future.
• Wellness Center – Sub-committee to discuss further. No comments or decisions were made in Executive Session.
• Housing Report– Number of homes in Hampshire County are around 99. This month is 84. Median value of those homes being just under $300,000. We have zero middle income homes.

Housing is an issue to be discussed further. Track of land in Augusta off of Rt. 50 that would be good for a housing development. Working with real estate agencies and WVEDA Regional Director Keith McIntosh.

 

New Business

• Prospecting two businesses- To build a business and another to purchase property in the CBTP.
• Infrastructure Loan Fund – Permission to transfer to CB Community Complex. Mayor Keadle made a motion to recommend transferring to CB Community Complex account from Infrastructure Loan Account. Len McMaster seconded the motion. Motion carried.
• December Luncheon – December 17^th.
• Children’s Home Society – Adopt a Child for Christmas. Motion to approve by Len McMaster. Seconded by Alison Jewell. Motion carried.

 

• Community Comments – None

 

• The board went into Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations. Beverly Keadle made a motion to enter into Executive Session. Jaclynn Graybill seconded the motion. Motion carried.
• The Board came back into regular session. No decisions were made or motions made in Executive Session.

 

Adjourn – Jeff Richman made a motion to adjourn. David Mayfield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

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