Pinetops advisory board approves final work plan, to present it to commissioners

The Pinetops Community Development Advisory Board approved a finalized town work plan at its Jan. 29, 2025 meeting and agreed that Chair Suzanne Coker Craig will present the plan to the Pinetops Board of Commissioners at the Feb. 4 town-hall meeting.

Bruce Naegelen of the North Carolina Department of Commerce walked the board through updates to the draft work plan that reflected members' input. After discussion, Mr. Ron Pate moved to approve the plan and Ms. JoAnn Smith seconded; all six board members present voted in favor.

The vote follows a board review intended to incorporate member commentary and to prepare the plan for formal presentation to the Board of Commissioners. Chair Suzanne Coker Craig said she plans to bring the approved plan forward at the commissioners' Feb. 4 meeting, which is the next scheduled town-hall appearance for the board.

During the meeting Mayor Brenda Harrell briefed the advisory board on the nationwide Lowe's 2025 Home Town Grant Program, a $100 million initiative for community revitalization, and asked the board to consider nominations for two upcoming advisory-board vacancies. The board also discussed by-laws governing member attendance and determined a letter should be sent to Patrick Pender regarding his absences. Members were asked to indicate which work-plan committee they would chair by the February meeting.

The advisory board received an invitation concerning a Literacy Trail from Edgecombe Memorial Library and agreed to resume that discussion at a later meeting. The next advisory-board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. and adjourned at 7:34 p.m.