Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Michael Bramlett, Ben Hagood, Tom Hagood, Dani Holt, Nick McKinney, Al Robinson, Robert Sams

Members Absent: Duff Bruce, Ryan Ferrell, Ron Masters, Betty McDaniel, Kathy McKenzie-Mitiku

Guests Present: Kim Clevenger, Assistant Director; Vicky Norbert, Bookkeeper; Bryan Owens; Connally Bradley

1. Meeting Called to Order by Robert Sams at 4:00 pm.
2. Approval of Current Agenda                   XYes               □Yes with following changes:
3. 1. Approval of Minutes: Changes/Additions: None

   Motion to approve by: Mr. Sams 2^nd by: Mr. Bramlett.  Motion passed with 6 votes.

4. Executive Session (if needed):
5. Director’s Report: Please see attached report. Mr. Sams did bring up the Eagle Scout project and discussion occurred over placement of the ADA campsite. No decision was made.
6. Treasurer’s Report: See attached financials. Mr. Sams asked Mr. Tom Hagood if he had heard from Ken Roper. Mr. Hagood responded that during his last contact with Mr. Roper, the county was still working on finding the rest of the funding for HMF.
7. Assistant Director’s Report: See attached report. Mrs. Clevenger reported to the board that the Red Cross was at the Americana Folk Festival to hand out waters and interact with the community. She said that both parties were pleased with the result of the partnership and will continue to work together in the future.
8. Message from the Board Chair: See attached report. Mr. Sams did highlight sending a rejection letter to Pickens County in early July. He also reported to the board that Mrs. Clevenger spoke with Rep. Davey Hiott and that Rep. Hiott told her that he would get in contact with Ken Roper to work out a deal between the county and HMF. Sams also suggested setting up an ad hoc committee to establish rules and procedures to use the Heritage Pavilion. No action was taken on setting up this ad hoc committee. Mr. Robinson brought up the need for a special meeting to go over the proposed FY 2026 budget. Mr. Sams asked to hold a discussion on the budget until Action Items.
9. Committee Reports (as needed)
   1. Pavilion: Sams informed the board that the landscape plan is in the early stages and the kitchen area has been approved. He also reported that the siding is going up on the exterior and that the project has passed the 50% completion.
   2. Building/Grounds: No report.
   3. Fundraising: No report.
   4. Long-Range Planning: No report.
10. Action Items
    1. Vote on New Board Members: Mr. Connally Bradley introduced himself again to board members. Mr. Sams made a motion to accept Connally Bradley as a board member. Mr. Bramlett seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Sams then made a motion that Betty McDaniel, Duff Bruce, and Alfred Robinson, Jr. be elected to another three-year term. Mr. Bramlett seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
    2. Vote on Officers: The slate of officers presented was Chair – Robert Sams, Vice Chair – Betty McDaniel, Treasurer – Tom Hagood, Secretary – Ron Masters. Mr. Bramlett made a motion to accept the slate of officers presented. Mrs. Holt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
    3. Vote on FY 2026 Budget: Mr. Robinson proposed a special meeting to go through the proposed budget and increase the income side. Mr. Sams read a note from Vicky Norbert, bookkeeper, that the proposed budget is in balance. Mr. Sams made a motion to approve the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget as presented. Mr. Bramlett seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
11. Old Business
12. New Business
13. Comments
    1. Bryan Owens of Blue Lion Digital shared an executive summary (attached) with the board. Mr. Owens is also seeking to arrange a meeting between Billy Crawford, HMF Director, and Kerry Owen, owner of Bee Well, to discuss how the foundation can go about selling grits and cornmeal in grocery stores. Mr. Owens believes this will help make up for shortfall from the county. He also reported that Pickens County no longer has an event calendar on their website. He said that the Chamber’s website (visitpickens.org) has city events and all the happenings at Hagood Mill are on there as well.
14. The next meeting will be held on July 24, 2025, at 4:00 pm at 138 Hagood Mill Rd., Pickens or via Zoom.
15. The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 pm.