Montreat Minute 07/08/2022
Comprehensive Plan Community Workshop Rescheduled for July 26
The Comprehensive Plan Committee has rescheduled the Community Workshop that was postponed from early June. The new schedule provides two different sessions in which you may participate. The first session will be on Tuesday, July 26th, from 10:00am to Noon. The second session will be that evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Both sessions will be in the Community Room at the Town Hall and will be identical agendas, so select the session most convenient for you. They will begin with a short presentation followed by group idea activities afterward. Please stop by to give your thoughts about Montreat Tomorrow.
About the Comprehensive Plan Project: “Montreat Tomorrow” is an updated comprehensive plan for the town of Montreat. The future inevitably brings change, but Montreat can ensure that growth is careful and responsible, while preserving the tranquility that makes the community a beloved place today. The plan will be broad and include topics like land use, environment, transportation, and recreation. Montreat Tomorrow will result in short-term actions that respond to current challenges while also preparing for the future with long-term strategies designed to reflect the community’s desires.
Coming soon! Montreat’s First All Persons Trail FLAT CREEK CROSSING
The Montreat Landcare Committee has announced plans to create Montreat’s first fully accessible trail. Designed to provide wheelchair access to Flat Creek, the new trail is located just inside the gate on the right side, south of the Memorial Garden. Flat Creek Crossing will have designated parking, easy drop off, hard surface, and a
gently-sloped route, which will make Flat Creek Crossing a great destination for anyone with mobility or sensory challenges. A picnic area with accessible table will add to the enjoyment of creekside recreation at this lovely site. Nearby Elizabeth’s Path and the Rainbow Mountain trailhead provide options for able-bodied
companions. Educational signage will highlight not only nature education, but also guide us to better understand how to be helpful to those who live with disabilities.
Your help is needed to bring the dream of this trail to reality. Excavation and surface materials will be expensive! Please consider a donation to Landcare earmarked for “Flat Creek Crossing.” If you are interested in putting in some sweat equity, we’d love your help moving debris and eradicating invasive plants. Please contact Grace Nichols, Landcare Chair, [email protected], or text Patti Pyle at: 262-573-8242. See the Montreat Landcare website for additional information.
Cottagers Annual Meeting
The Montreat Cottagers will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in Upper Anderson. Please come meet your friends and neighbors and hear updates from the leaders of the four main Montreat institutions — Town of Montreat, Montreat Conference Center, Montreat College, and the Presbyterian Heritage Center. Information will also be presented concerning Cottagers’ business, and Cottagers’ officers for the new year will be elected. Please join us!
PHC Ice Cream Social on July 23
“You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!” Here’s the scoop! Come to an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social at the Presbyterian Heritage Center on Saturday, June 23rd, from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Come for a sweet and delicious summer treat. All ages are welcome! Much of the ice cream and all of the fun will be homemade. It will be a great opportunity to visit with old Montreat friends and meet new ones. Take this opportunity to check out the current exhibits in the PHC. Discover all the PHC has to offer, including the new replica of the Mt. Mitchell railroad. The ice cream and the fun are free! See you at the PHC!
Montreat Adult Summer Club Launches Summer Series
The Montreat Adult Summer Club will launch its summer series of Wednesday presentations this Wednesday, July 13 with a special program commemorating Montreat’s 125th anniversary. The Presbyterian Heritage Center will present never before published photographs of Montreat and the North Fork Valley as well as rarely seen images from its collection. PHC Executive Director Ron Vinson and PHC Senior Researcher Nancy Midgette will share facts, photos, and the history of Montreat since its beginning in 1897. The program will be held at 2:30pm in Upper Anderson. Refreshments will follow.
On July 20, Montreat’s own astronaut, John Casper, will share about his career “in the air”, referring to his recently released memoir, The Sky Above. John will also sign copies of his book.
The final program of the season will be on July 27 with a presentation on Andy Andrews, one of the outstanding leaders and heroes associated with Montreat. Andy was a WWII war hero, Montreat’s first mayor and so much more.
Don’t miss any of these exciting programs or the season concluding picnic on August 3.
Town Begins New Fiscal Year
The Town of Montreat began its new fiscal year on July 1, running until June 30, 2023. At the June Town Council meeting, Commissioners passed a combined $2.4 million budget (general fund and water fund) for the year. Happily, there will be no tax increase and no use of reserve funds (our savings account) to finance Town operations or projects. The budget includes a 2% cost of living increase for staff and up to a 3% merit increase. It also includes a small number of capital projects, including street paving, Texas Road Extension culvert repair, Texas Road bridge repair (phase 1), an emergency generator for the water system, and body cams for the police officers.
For a copy of the 2022-2023 Budget Ordinance and Fee Schedule, CLICK HERE. For additional budget detail, contact Town Clerk Angie Murphy at [email protected] .
Town Council Meeting Thursday, July 14, at 7:00pm
The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting next Thursday, July 14, at 7:00pm in the Town Hall. The meeting will include a public hearing on a conditional zoning request. For details, CLICK HERE.
For a copy of the agenda, CLICK HERE. The meeting will be live streamed and recorded. For information about streaming the meeting, CLICK HERE. The Public Forum will begin at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited.
Updates and Reminders
- The Montreat Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, July 14, at 10:30am in the Community Room of the Town Hall. For details of the meeting, including agenda and streaming information, CLICK HERE.
- Support our Montreat Post Office by buying stamps. Our Post Office is very dependent upon income from stamps and package postage. Even if you are not a full time resident, please buy your stamps from the Montreat Post Office. We don’t want our Post Office to go away due to lack of business.
- A note of thanks to Town Public Works and Sanitation staff for their efforts earlier this week in collecting trash as well as collecting residents’ bulk items on Tuesday and Wednesday. And thank you to residents, as the process was quite orderly and efficient thanks to your care in getting items to the curb and organized for pick up– a special and appreciated service provided twice annually by the Town. Next Bulk Pickup is Tuesday, October 25.
- With more visitors coming to Montreat this summer, please remember several important facts about sanitation pick up:
- No matter your location, please have your trash out by 8:00am on pick up day
- Please tie trash bags to facilitate removal by the sanitation team
- If you have cardboard boxes or other cardboard, please break down the boxes and lay all cardboard together
Questions?
Do you have Town-related questions you would like answered? If so, please send them to Angela Murphy at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a great weekend!