Knox District Supervisor Trey Adkins spoke at length before members of the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority during its July 20 meeting, raising a series of questions about the authority’s handling of legal matters, its relationship with the Appalachia School of Law and actions taken by the former IDA chairman.
Speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, Adkins told board members his concerns centered on transparency, accountability and the proper protection of taxpayer dollars. His remarks touched on multiple issues, including an unidentified economic development project, the IDA’s previous support for the Appalachia School of Law, a legal services contract approved earlier this year and reimbursements made to former Executive Director Matt Fields.
One of Adkins’ first questions involved a project listed on a December 2025 IDA agenda under the code name “Project Vital Path.”
Adkins asked whether the project could now be publicly identified and whether it was connected to the Appalachia School of Law because it appeared on the same agenda as a planned presentation by the school’s dean.
Several current board members said they were unfamiliar with the project. Board attorney Vern Presley explained that “Vital Path” remains a confidential project name because it has not been publicly disclosed.
“I understand projects are given names until they’re able to be disclosed,” Adkins said. “I’ve been doing this 16 years. We give projects names that we don’t want the public to know or another county to know, and I don’t have a problem with that part.”
Adkins then turned his attention to former IDA board member and chairman Tim O’Quinn, who was unanimously removed from the board by the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors earlier this month.
Adkins disputed statements O’Quinn made on social media alleging the IDA board was not allowed to fully investigate the proposed financial assistance package for the Appalachia School of Law before approving it.
According to Adkins, IDA meeting minutes show O’Quinn and former board member Alicia O’Quin were appointed to work directly with representatives of the law school on behalf of the IDA.
He also pointed to January 2026 discussions in which he offered IDA members access to confidential information concerning the law school if they signed nondisclosure agreements.
Adkins said the committee was later dissolved at the request of then-Chairman Tim O’Quinn after members declined to sign the agreements.
“I came here and said we’re going to give you everything,” Adkins told the board. “We’re going to let you see everything that I see.”
Adkins argued those events contradict later claims that board members were prevented from conducting due diligence before the county ultimately approved financial assistance for the law school.
He also questioned how a $10,000 payment connected to former Tazewell County attorney Flux Neo was presented to the board earlier this year.
Although Adkins acknowledged the payment appeared within an accounts payable packet approved by the board, he argued it should have been listed separately because of its significance.
“This was not petty,” Adkins said. “This should have been on an item of its own and made it clear to the board what you were voting on.”
Adkins also questioned a contract signed by O’Quinn with Neo.
According to Adkins, board members were never specifically asked to approve hiring Neo, the contract terms or the initial $10,000 payment before the agreement was executed.
He asked the current board not to ratify the contract until further legal review could be conducted.
“My request here tonight is for that to be tabled,” Adkins said. “I don’t think legally you can ratify it if you weren’t asked.”
During his remarks, Adkins also questioned communications surrounding the hiring of outside legal counsel.
Presley confirmed he had previously advised the IDA he could continue serving as legal counsel if board members formally voted to waive any potential conflict of interest.
Board members acknowledged the subject had been discussed, although no formal waiver was ever approved.
Adkins also raised questions about former Executive Director Matt Fields, including the circumstances surrounding a county-owned Chevrolet Tahoe that was involved in a crash in Roanoke and reimbursement requests submitted during Fields’ employment.
He asked whether any current board members knew why Fields had been in Roanoke on county business when the accident occurred. No board member responded that they knew the purpose of the trip.
IDA board member Brenda Ward told Adkins that Fields conducted a lot of business for the IDA and had to travel a lot.
Adkins further questioned meal reimbursements Fields received while dining locally in Grundy, saying he believes taxpayer-funded meals should generally be limited to out-of-town travel conducted on official business.
As part of his presentation, Adkins submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking reimbursement records, invoices and documentation related to Fields’ expenses, along with records identifying the purpose of the Roanoke trip.
Throughout his remarks, Adkins emphasized that he was not accusing current board members of wrongdoing but wanted them to carefully review past actions before taking additional votes.
“I don’t have any hard feelings toward anybody here,” Adkins said. “I’m making you all aware of the situation.”
After Adkins concluded his remarks, the board entered executive session to discuss legal matters.
Following the closed session, the IDA reconvened in open session but took no action on any matters discussed.
