Committees

McDowell County invites you to participate in your local government by volunteering for a committee or an advisory board.  Committees and advisory boards aid in the governing process by keeping McDowell County in touch with our citizens' ideas and preferences.  Citizens who volunteer for committees and boards help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, the public's welfare and the stewardship of natural resources.

Some committees and boards are created by the authority of the North Carolina General Statutes.  The McDowell County Board of Commissioners has created additional committees and boards for specific areas of service.

Listed below is each of the County's committees and boards.  For a committee application, see below.  Please contact the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners to receive additional information.

Committee List

• Adult Home Care/Nursing Home Advisory Committee
  Contact: Mandy Johnson, Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman, 828-287-2281, Press 3 for Long Term Care , then ext. 1
  Meeting Time: Meetings/visits have been postponed due to COVID
  Meeting Location:
  Community Advisory Committee Members are volunteer advocates in each county who are appointed by the County Commissioners to serve on the nursing and adult care home community advisory committees in each county
  (G.S. 131E-128 and 131D-31).
  
  
• Agricultural Advisory Board
  Contact: Matt Burneisen, KMB-NC Cooperative Extension, 828-652-8104
  Meeting Time:   Quarterly
  Meeting Location: NC Cooperative Extension Conference Room, Services Building, 60 E. Court Street, Marion, NC
  The Agricultural Advisory Board is composed of seven appointed members who serve three-year terms. The purpose of the Board is to review and approve applications for qualified farmland and voluntary agricultural districts and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts, to hold Public Hearings, and to perform other related tasks as assigned. At least five (5) of the seven (7) members shall be actively engaged in production agriculture.
  
  
• America 250 Committee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Contact: Madalyn Robinson, Planning Assistant, 828-659-0858 
  Meeting Time:  Monthly, 3rd Tuesday at 12 pm
  Meeting Location:  Commissioners Conference Room at 69 N. Main Street, Marion
  In 2026, America will commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the development of a new nation dedicated to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” McDowell County's America 250 Committee works to commemorate the county's history, represent the voices that make McDowell what it is today, and celebrate the local pieces of a larger story. 
  

• Focal Point Advisory Committee-
  Contact: Weyland Prebor, Senior Center Director, 828-659-0823
  Meeting Time: Bi-monthly, 3rd Wednesday at 10am
  Meeting Location: Senior Center Conference Room, 100 Spaulding Road, Marion
  The McDowell Senior Center FPAC serves to help understand the aging related issues for older adults in McDowell County. The committee meets and reviews current business related to center operations, programing, operations, financials, and community partnerships. Guest speakers are routinely invited to provide information about again programs and services to the committee members. Each May the committee reviews and first approves the Home and Community Block Grant Funding for the following fiscal year. The final approval for the budget is provided by McDowell County Government including the County Commissioners.
  The members of the FPAC are appointed by the county commissioners upon recommendation of the committee. The membership shall represent older adults by at least 60%, established agencies of services to the aging, and the community at large.
  The FPAC maintains a minimum of nine members. Appointment to the committee requires a two-year commitment. Four members will rotate off one year, and the next year five members will rotate off. Committee membership may be extended through consensus of the committee.
  The FPAC meets in the McDowell Senior Center Conference Room by-monthly on the third Wednesday of the month from 10:00-11:00am. The meeting months include January, March, May, July, September, and November. More meetings may occur as deemed necessary by the Senior Center Director, Chaiperson, or members of the FPAC.
  For more information about the McDowell Senior Center Focal Point Committee, please contact Director Weyland Prebor at 659-0823 or by email wprebor@mcdowellseniorcenter.org.
  
  
• Historic Preservation Commission
  Contact: Madalyn Robinson, Planning Assistant, 828-659-0858
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 3rd Monday at 6:00pm
  Meeting Location: Services Building Conference Room, 60 E Court Street, Marion                                                                                                                           The McDowell County Historical Preservation Commission works to promote, share, and preserve historic landmarks for future generations.  The strength and happiness of a community is measured and preserved by the contributions and commitment of its people to the past, present and future. The purpose and objective of the MHPC is to promote, protect, conserve and preserve one of McDowell County’s most valued and important assets, its historical and architectural heritage. 

• Jury Commission
  Contact: Melissa Adams, Clerk of Court, 828-655-4100
  Meeting Time: As needed per the Clerk
  Meeting Location: McDowell County Courthouse, 21 S Main St., Marion, NC
  The purpose of the Jury Commission is to eliminate persons on the "raw jury list" who are known to be disqualified and unable to serve by grounds stated in the statutes (these grounds being non-citizenship, non-residence, juror has already served during the past 2 years, under 18 years of age, unable to speak or understand English, felons unless citizenship has been restored, physical/mental incompetence, or insanity).
  Statutory authority: G.S. 9-1
  
  
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)
  Contact: Linda Burleson, Judicial Service Coordinator, NCDPS, (828)652-7919 ext.22
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 2nd Thursday, 9:00am
  Meeting Location: Schools Central Office Conference Room, 334 S. Main St., Marion, NC
  • Develops community-based delinquency and substance-abuse prevention strategies and programs
  • Ensures that appropriate community-based intermediate dispositions for adjudicated juveniles are available
  • Up to 26 members appointed by the Board of Commissioners
  • Membership governed by statutes
  • Members serve a 2-year term (staggered), no term limit
  • Terms expire in June
  • The chair and vice chair are elected annually by the council membership
    Statutory authority: NCGS 143B-845
    
    
• Library Board of Trustees
  Contact: Marlan Brinkley, Director, 828-652-3858
  Meeting Time: Quarterly at noon
  Meeting Location: Alternates between Marion Library and Old Fort Library
  The Library Board of Trustees was created by the North Carolina General Assembly and has full control and supervision of the Public Library System. It makes the rules governing the Library.
  
  
• McDowell Economic Development Association (MEDA)
  Contact:  Chuck Abernathy, Economic Development Director, 828-652-9391 Website: https://mcdowellnceda.govoffice3.com/
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 4th Tuesday, 7:30am
  Meeting Location: Universal Conference Room, 634 College Dr., Marion
  The McDowell Economic Development Association (MEDA) is a non-profit corporation serving McDowell County. The mission of MEDA is to recruit and to expand new and existing industry in the County. The goal of MEDA is to create jobs and increase the tax base in McDowell County.
  MEDA is a public-private effort funded by the County and through donations from businesses and individuals. the organization is guided by a nineteen-member Board of Directors representing all sections of the County and is managed by an Executive Director and Administrative Assistant.
  In undertaking its mission, MEDA maintains contact with key people in the field of economic development and is knowledgeable of loan and grant programs that provide the required funds for growth. the organization also compiles and produces current demographic data, video and other multi-media presentations which are used to promote McDowell County.
  
  
• McDowell Technical College Board of Trustees
  Contact: Madelyn Gaito, Board Liason  828-652-0630
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 2nd Thursday at 6:00pm
  Meeting Location: Universal Conference Room, 634 College Dr., Marion, NC
  The McDowell Technical College Board of Trustees assists in the development and operations of the community college in accordance with the provisions of the law and the standards of the State Board of Community Colleges with statutory authority under G.S. 115D-12,13.
  
  
• Planning Board
  Contact: Ronald Harmon, Planning Director, 828-652-7121
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 4th Monday at 6:30pm
  Meeting Location: Services Building Conference Room, 60 E Court Street, Marion, NC
  The McDowell County Planning Board is advisory in nature and makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners, studies and prepares reports requested by the Commissioners, and suggests projects for the staff to investigate. The Planning Board meets the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30pm.
  
  
• Foothills Workforce Development Board
  Contact: Annette Staley, 828-351-2369, astaley@foothillsregion.org
  Meeting Time: Quarterly on 1st Thursday at noon
  Meeting Location:111 W. Court Street, Rutherfordton, NC  28139
  The mission of the Foothills Workforce Development Board is to facilitate the delivery of workforce development programs in McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland and Polk Counties;  monitor quality and continuously improve programs; develop and maintain a unified system of delivery; and promote the economic well being of our customers by providing high quality and accessible workforce development programs and related services.. Our customers are job seekers, training seekers, and employers.
  
  
• Tourism Development Authority
  Contact: Johnsie Parker, Operations Officer (operations@blueridgetravelers.com) 828-668-4282
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 11:00am
  Meeting Location: Varies
  The McDowell County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is an independent government agency created to promote tourism in McDowell County.  The TDA administers the expenditure of occupancy taxes paid by travelers who stay overnight in lodging establishments, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals such as Airbnb and VRBOs. 

   

  
  
• Transportation Advisory Board
  Contact: Jason Hollifield, Transit Director, 828-559-0744
  Meeting Time: Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 1:00pm
  Meeting Location: 300 Rockwell Dr., Marion
  Recommend policy and make recommendations to the Transportation Coordinator and the McDowell County Board of Commissioners on the transportation needs of McDowell County citizens, particularly with respect to a coordinated and cost-effective approach to the delivery of transportation services to area human service agencies and the general public.
  

Committee Application Form