Montreat Minute 10/13/23

October 13, 2023

Mayor’s Summary of the October 12, 2023 Town Council Meeting

Greetings!

We were grateful for the residents and friends who joined the Council and staff for our October meeting.

My summary follows below. The official minutes will be in next month’s agenda packet. Please remember you can view tonight’s meeting recording by CLICKING HERE.

Public Forum

To read more, CLICK HERE

  • For the first time in my recollection, no one had any questions or comments during the Forum. But immediately upon my adjournment of the Public Forum, Tom Frist spoke up saying “This is a wonderful thing, whether anyone uses it or not, to have this 30 minute period for anyone to say anything they want.” As an historical anecdote, the Public Forum is eight years old. It was a campaign promise of Commissioner Fouche in 2015. We are all glad it is a part of our monthly agenda.

    Town Council Elects Commissioner

At last night’s Town Council meeting, the Council elected Grant Dasher to assume the unexpired Commissioner position recently vacated by Kent Otto. Grant, his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Evangelin, Cohen, and Alison, have been residents of Montreat for three and a half years. Grant has a dental practice in Asheville. Prior to Asheville, Grant practiced in Memphis.

The Dashers love the outdoors, where they camp, hike, fish and enjoy our mountains. Grant also relaxes by playing the banjo. More on Grant in a future Montreat Minute Profile.

Bear Hunting Season Begins Monday–  Be BearWise!

Bear hunting season begins Monday, October 16th and ends November 18th, then resumes December 11th to January 1st, 2024. Please be careful walking and hiking during this period.

Last year, the Town Council did much work to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Fortunately, we had no incidents last year. We would like to maintain that record this year. Several resident/visitor resources are available, including:

  • Resident Rights and Responsibilities CLICK HERE
  • What to Do in case of a hunting dog or bear hunter issue CLICK HERE

Be Deer Wise Too

Bears aren’t the only wildlife in Montreat. There are more than one million deer in North Carolina- with a large share in WNC. This means deer collisions are a possibility, especially from October to December when mating and hunting season make deer go on the move. According to national sources, deer-vehicle collisions are the top animal-related insurance claim in the U.S. Here are some tips on how to avoid hitting those beautiful but abundant creatures:

  1. Know where the deer are likely to be. Deer tend to graze in both woods and open fields. When driving, be attentive to areas where you’ve seen deer in the past – they are likely to cross there again.
  2. Be alert at sunrise and sunset. Deer are more active during dawn and dusk hours.
  3. Use your high beams. When possible, use your high beams for better visibility. The extra light will help make it easier to spot a deer, or other animals, lurking alongside the road.
  4. When you see one… you’ll probably see more. Deer travel in groups. If one comes across your path, proceed with caution in case there are more.
  5. Don’t swerve. Swerving isn’t always the safest option. Hitting a deer might often cause less damage than swerving to avoid it… and then hitting a more dangerous obstacle, like a vehicle in oncoming traffic.
  6. Wear your seat belt. If you do hit a deer, wearing a seat belt decreases your chances of injury.
  7. Spread the word. When friends or family head out on the road, let them know to be careful and alert. Even a simple reminder can help prevent deer collisions.

Don’t Miss the Legislative Update on Thursday, October 19

On Thursday, October 19th, from 4:30pm to 6:00, the Town is sponsoring a 2023 State Legislative Update in the Town Hall Community Room. The speaker will be State Representative Eric Ager, who represents House District 114, which includes Montreat.

The update will give residents the opportunity to learn and ask questions about what has taken place during this year’s North Carolina General Assembly session, including the recently passed state budget. Representative Ager will summarize major legislation adopted by the General Assembly during the 2023 state legislative session, of which there are impacts on local communities. There will be a Q&A session following his presentation. A brief reception will begin at 4:30 with light refreshments. Representative Ager will begin his remarks at 4:45. All are invited to attend.

Made in Montreat is Tomorrow, October 14

Made in Montreat, the highly anticipated craft show and sale, is returning to the Lower Moore Center tomorrow, Saturday, October 14th, from 9:00am to 2:30pm.

Beth Casper, coordinator of this year’s event, said the show will feature 20 artisans, all from Montreat. They will be offering a wide variety of items, including soaps, stained glass, jewelry, wood items, art, pottery and more. It’s a great opportunity to find that unique holiday gift for a loved one and offers fun and fellowship for all. Cash, check, and charge will all be accepted forms of payment.

Updates and Reminders

  • The Montreat Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, October 19th, at 10:30am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. CLICK HERE for streaming instructions.
  • Thanks to the many who have completed the Montreat Minute readership survey. We would still like to hear from other readers and receive your opinions, ideas and suggestions. To take the three minute survey, CLICK HERE
  • Get ready for the second and final bulk Items/white goods curbside pickup for the year on Tuesday, October 24th. For more information about items for bulk pick up, CLICK HERE, then go to “Trash Pick-Up Information”. Take advantage of this free service (except mattresses and box springs- $15 each) offered by the Town.
  • Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!

Questions or Comments?

Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angie Murphy at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend!