The Executive Committee of the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. in the Simpson Building. Mary Ann Rice, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Executive Committee were present: Joe Brumit, Frances Ramsey, and John Parham. Trustee Roger Metcalf participated by phone.
Additional Trustees present for the meeting included: Trustees Matt Kern and Bill Murdock. Trustees Ron Edgerton and Jacqueline Hallum participated by phone.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President, Business and Finance/CFO; Walt Curry, College Attorney; Charlie Ball; Hatch Foundation; James Wilson, Pulliam Properties; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Meeting Purpose
International Travel request and the Vision for the A-B Tech Enka.
International Travel
The Division of Emergency Services has developed a partnership with the Navy Medical Unit in Cuba to deliver an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course. Emergency Medical Science faculty will train ten students from the Navy Medical Unit in four weeks of online instruction and one week of on-site lab instruction at the base in Cuba. Course fees charged will cover all necessary costs, including instructional pay and travel expenses. The instructors will be housed on the Navy Base in Guantanamo Bay, and international insurance has been secured for the trip.
The Navy has requested that the College approve the travel to Cuba prior to September 30, 2018, so that the funds may be encumbered prior to October 1.
The College is seeking approval from the Board to allow two faculty members in the Emergency Medical Science department to travel to Cuba to deliver one week of on-site lab instruction, three to four times per year.
On a motion by Ms. Ramsey, seconded by Dr. Parham, the International Trip to Cuba was approved by unanimous consent.
Vision For A-B Tech Enka
Mr. Charlie Ball stated that he is willing to purchase part of the A-B Tech Enka property and is interested in the parcel that includes the Haynes Tower. Mr. Ball offered to purchase a 7.7-acre parcel at A-B Tech Enka for $1.4 Million, which includes the Haynes Tower and additional space for parking.
Mr. Ball presented the following master plan for additional use of the property:
- Turn A-B Tech Enka into a mixed-use property by:
- Using the funds from the purchased Haynes Tower, the College could upgrade the Technology Commercialization Center (TCC) and increase classroom space to achieve multi-campus status.
- Building a North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum.
- Creating an “innovation campus.”
- Offering a food court and coffee shop.
- Including neighborhood and lifestyle retail space.
- Providing professional office space.
- Constructing a convertible structured parking facility. (Facility may be turned into an office building when parking becomes obsolete.)
- Considering future residential areas.
Mr. Ball is only interested in the 7.7-acre parcel at this time. Mr. Ball suggested that the College sell individual parcels on Sand Hill Road to make the above vision come to fruition. Mr. Ball then stated that he may consider a full build-out of the rest of the A-B Tech Enka property in the future.
Mr. James Wilson reminded the Committee that there is another offer for the property that needs to be addressed and that a third offer may be made for the property in the near future.
The Committee discussed Mr. Ball’s proposal at length and asked Mr. Wilson to present all offers to the full Board on October 1.
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary