Economic Development Commission

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC) TOWN OF MOUNT AIRY Minutes of 02/26/2014 Meeting Attendees: Andrew Williamson - Chairman Frank Dertzbaugh James Linton Scott Strong, Council Liaison Michael VanSant Chrissy Jongezoon Bill McCullough Absent: Dan Curtis Also attending were Bob King, Town Council member, Melissa Hoyle, Town Staff, and Mayor Pat Rockinberg for a portion of the meeting.. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Airy Town Hall. 2. Minutes for the EDC meeting of 22 January 2014 were reviewed and approved with four (4) corrections. 3. Melissa Hoyle provided the EDC her Economic Development Staff Report for February 2014. Included in her report were upcoming events Downtown Mount Airy – Third Thursday (4 to 8 PM) and the upcoming Main Street Chili Cook-off on April 12, 2014. She reported on the status of the Shop Mt. Airy app, which is moving very slowly, passing around a draft App Informational Brochure and Shop Mt. Airy Letter – Direct Mailing. Further details will be reported at the March meeting. She also reported that Community Center Task Force meets every 2nd Thursday. 4. Melissa Hoyle reported that changes resulting from town meetings and P&Z workshops will be reported to the Planning Commission at their 31 March 2014 meeting for review and forwarding to the Town Council in May. Frank Dertzbaugh suggested that the Planning Commission should relook at the realignment of the map boundaries for Downtown Zone (DTZ) for the Master Plan and looked for EDC input to help in the relook of the DTZ. Frank Dertzbaugh will canvas downtown businesses and residences to get their input for the next meeting. 5. There is no new status on the feasibility of Wi-Fi in Mount Airy but will continue to be an item of discussion for the EDC. 1 6. Scott Strong reported that new businesses coming into Town include a Soft Pretzel place on Main Street, Carroll County Hospital planning to put an urgent care center in the former SuperFresh building, a Rita’s Ice on Ridgeside Drive and Indoor Batting Cages to be located Twin Arch area. Scott Strong also mentioned that Bio-Stat is leaving the downtown area. It was suggested at the meeting that Bio-Stat management be contacted regarding getting feedback on their decision to leave Mount Airy. Town Staff will do this contact. It was suggested at the meeting that the Mount Airy business inventory continue to be updated to reflect changes. 7. Scott Strong reported a streamlined Sign Ordinance has been forwarded to the Town Council and will be on the Town Council meeting agenda for March. There will be a public hearing held before the meeting for comments from residents and town businesses regarding the ordinance. 8. Under business ideas/incentives for downtown, Chrissy Jongezoon reported she is helping to add sections to the updated Mount Airy business phone book. 9. EDC members have been asked to bring to the March meeting their ideas for ideas to be incorporated into the town budget for EDC for July 2014-June 2015 budget. 10. EDC members are requested to bring ideas for town EDC handouts incorporating “Be local- Shop Mount Airy” at the Chili cook-off in April. 11. Melissa Hoyle was asked to provide EDC members via email the current revised sign ordinance, current budget breakout, Shop Mt. Airy cover letter, and Shop Mt. Airy Brochure. 12. The next EDC meeting is scheduled for 26 March 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Mount Airy Inn. 13. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Minutes reviewed and approved with corrections in paragraph 3 and 4 on 26 M arch 2014 2