CAMPGROUND NEW START
CAEZ Meets Nov 1 2022
   Central Appalachian Empowerment Zone held their November public meeting Nov 1st over at the Dundon Campground beginning at 6pm. For the first time in years, the meeting house was full and tension was high. At issue was the giving away of their Campground and Lodge building which wasn't even listed on their meeting agenda. Also, many of the Boardsters weren't even aware of the loomin vote.
  First some background
  During the Clinton administration, the Feds came up with a program to give local yocals a pot of money and let them decide on how to best improve social and economic conditions in blighted areas, to empower the people!
  County Clay was central to the program due to extreme poverty. That was nearly 30 years ago. it was a good idea but in reality, all the enterprise zones as they were called back then, they collapsed shortly after receiving the funds.
  Here in Clayberry, even before the funds actually arrived, the local school system  grabbed almost half the award for themselves.
  CAEZ lasted longer than any of the other awardees but truth is, it has been failing for a decade or more. In the last few years it hasn't had a Director, nor direction. It's been hanging on but barely. A couple years back it even lost its non profit status.
  County Clay has a chance at economic growth  all centered around the new ERTS State Park. Locals think it's a pipe dream. Naysayers openly spout, that trail ain't going to help one bit.
  Those folks are full of shirt.
  For this county to prosper, there has to be a place for tourists to stay overnight. Currently, the only  public campground is located at Dundon and is owned by the CAEZ. That quasi govt agency does not have the funds to grow the place nor market it.
  The reality is, their Lodge building needs to have at least three times more rooms to rent and camp spaces the same thing. There needs to be at least 25 of em to make ends meet.
   Word seeped out 6 weeks ago that there was effort for the County Commission to buy the place and develop it using those elusive Roger Hanshaw Election Year grant offerings, $250 million available.
  As we know it, Commissioner King called up CAEZ long time Boardster, Michael Martin, and asked if they would let go of the place. The response was No.
  After the CAEZ's Oct meeting, a reporter asked Martin about getting rid of the place for the good of the county and its future. Martin tensed up as if that info should not be public. As a matter of fact, he said just that, that nobody should know about the quiet plan.
  OK, there's some of the background info. Now on with the Nov 1st meeting.
  We knew something was up by the number of vehicles in the campground parking lot. Inside the Lodge building, more than 20 were in attendance. That's unheard of for a CAEZ meeting. Attendance is normally limited to 3 or 4 people.
  It got so bad a few years ago, the by laws were changed to, a quorum can be just three Board members.
  Something else odd.
  Mickey Boggs is the elected Chair of the agency. For the second meeting in a row, she did not run the thang. For the last two meetings, Boggs sat over in the corner and said next to nothing. That deserves a big Hmmmmmmmmmmm..
  Once in session, acting Chair Michael Martin ran the normal business stuff which didn't amount to a hill of beans.
  The center of attention was discussion on turning over the campground to the Elk River Trail Foundation based out of Clendenin. Foundation Chair Ken Tawney was on hand to make the ask.
 When first mention came of the back room dealing, eyebrows went up as did blood pressures around the room.
   That Ken Tawney handed out a just completed "trail town" study that provided, more rental space needs to be built and right away. Stuff like bed and breakfasts, AirBnB slots, campgrounds, diners, and livery rental companies come to the top of the heap.
  That raised blood pressure, it went up a little higher when Martin told the world, the mission of the CAEZ was almost complete and thus, it's time to shut down the organization.
Gulp!!!!
  Tawny made the ask to "gift" the 11 acre campground and Lodge to the Foundation so they can grow the place. Tawney also announced that DNR plans to build a period correct Welcome Center and trinket space very near the old Dundon Depot.
  Sadly, very sadly, he also announced that the State plans to buy the old Newt Bragg house in Dundon which will be torn down. True it's in bad condition bu that about the only piece of history still standing. Sad!
  Tawney made assurances that his non profit will receive a big chunk of $$$ from that just mentioned Roger Hanshaw  Election year grant fund. He added, just $150 million is left in that pot of gold. Tawney, "Time is critical."
  Around the room  people started interrupting the presentation. Temps were coming alive.
  People that rarely showed up for meetings, that included Boardsters, started poo pooing the notion, to slow everything down, to form some long winded committee. the dimly-lits refused to realize, when that $150 million is gone, there is no more coming our way.
  When those questions came up, Chair Martin also got riled up big time.
  Trying to stay on task, Martin reminded all that they haven't had  Dirrector in years, no grant writers on board, and said, "We have gone about as far as we can go."
  The locals didn't like the sound of that last part.
  With tempers flaring, Martin,"It's time to dissolve [the CAEZ].... and that's comin!"
  At one point one lady asked that they go into secret time. That didn't work.
  Tawney told the group, the existing workers would remain employed when the Foundation take the place over. That didn't sooth many souls.
  Amanda Shelton seemed to be the ring leader of the anti gifting crew. She kept insisting to slow things down, maybe form a partnership with the Foundation.. whatever it takes to stop this smart decision, nip it, nip it in the bud. 


Michael Martin, acting Chair



Ken Tawney
   There was a problem with voting the issue. It wasn't listed on the agenda.  They came up with a work around.
   Because of the urgency to get part of that pot of free money, they could call an "emergency" meeting after the regular meeting, and take the vote then.
   Quickly a hand written agenda was taped to the meeting house door. after a short pee break, at 7:15pm, the emergency meeting got underway.
  The rebels didn't like that plan. They didn't like the idea of the CAEZ dissolving in short order. They didn't like much of anything.
  Let's get this straight, communication on this big issue, communication was non existent. It felt like the Chair only wanted a few to know what was coming.
 Trying to calm the masses, Mr Tawney, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
  Commissioner Connie Kinder: we need to study this further.... do the accounting first... I didn't know about this!!!.
  One guy in favor of the ownership change: This State Park will get underway next Spring... County Clay has to be ready....First Impressions count... CAEZ doesn't have the money nor experience to make the campground work.
 Long time CAEZ Boardster Linda Rhodes: I think we should let the foundation take it... We're getting too old... There's no youth involved.... This place needs developed... We don't have the means... naysayers keep us from success....
   The crowd listened to Ms Rhodes' words. They knew everything she said was true.
  They went on and on. People were getting sleepy and irritable.
  After arguing back and forth, a "reverter" clause was added to the motion. In essence, if the Foundation doesn't get the grant money and doesn't do anything with the campground, the property will be returned to the CAEZ.
  Seems like a good work around. Right? Nope, still bickering in progress.
  In the end, the vote was seven for the giveaway to the four saying no way Jose'.
  Breaking ranks with her protesters, Amanda Shelton voted Aye. Commissioner Connie Kinder was a Nay as were Mickey Boggs and Leslie Osborne.
  We honestly believe, that Clendenin Foundation will get something started at the Campground and in short order.
 This tense meeting was over at 8:25pm.
    America, County Clay has a better chance of a brighter future compliments the thinker crowd of the CAEZ. 
   James Bryce once said: To most people nothing is more troublesome than the effort of thinking

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