Town/Community Meeting Summary – Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Notes from the Town/Community Meeting..

Town Manager Savannah Parrish opened the meeting with a series of updates and announcements:

• The Town Hall is relocating to Convocation Hall for several weeks to enable clean up in the Town Hall building from the hurricane. The temporary office will be open from 10:00am to 2:00pm Monday through Friday. To reach personnel in Town government, the same phone number, 828-668-8002, is still valid.
• If your home is in a flood plain and you have questions, please contact Kayla DiChristina at [email protected]
• Water has been restored to the majority of homes, estimated at 80-90%. The Town lost two of its 11 pumps in the storm, but the system is expected to be restored within 24-48 hours.
• Dumpsters are now available at the Convenience Center. However, please restrict the use of the dumpsters to household waste and recycling only, no other materials. There will be an opportunity for storm debris pickup at a later date to be announced.
• The Post Office is still relocated to 2 Tucker Road, Ridgecrest/Black Mountain. The office is open from 12:30 to 4:30pm, Mon – Fri. If you are giving your address out, continue to use your Montreat PO Box number. And, with limited space at the Ridgecrest PO, please check in for any packages that have been sent to you as space at the PO is very limited.
• Frist Road and Calvin Trail remain blocked. Providence Terrace is passable. We are expecting all roads to be passable within 24 hours.
• Regarding donations to the Town, donations will be used to pay contractors for their emergency services and to compensate staff for their extra hours. Historically, the town has compensated overtime work with time off. But we are making an exception to this practice and paying overtime at 1.5X their normal payrate. We did not anticipate this in the budget, so donations will be used for these special purposes. To make a donation to the Town, CLICK HERE or send a check to the Town at PO Box 423, Montreat, 28757. Thank you for your support and generosity.

Police Report:

• Police Chief Jeff Eaton reported that we are benefiting from loaned police officers from Hudson and Greenville, NC. They will be aiding our officers with augmented patrols in the Town.
• There have been no incidents reported in Montreat, although the police have intercepted several individuals and redirected them out of Town. If you see suspicious individuals, please call Dispatch at 828-250-6670.
• The Montreat curfew remains in effect, but has been revised to 10:00pm to 6:00am.

MRA Report:

• The Huckleberry in the Moore Center will be available as a community gathering place Monday through Saturday from 10:00a-2:00p. Food/drinks will not be available, but power and internet service is available.
• Black Mountain Presbyterian Church will be utilizing Dunn Pavilion for storage of supplies. It is not a distribution center, just a storage center. Go to the church in BM if supplies are needed.
• The Cajun Navy is still in Montreat serving area needs. Please do not go to their headquarters on Collegiate Circle. Instead, contact MRA staff if help is needed. However, they will be serving dinner in the late afternoon for the public. Tonight’s menu includes chicken.

College Report:

• Dean of Students, Daniel Bennett, announced that the date for on-campus classes has been pushed back to October 21 due to infrastructure development here.
• Online classes will begin on October 14.

Black Mountain Presbyterian Church Report:

• Senior pastor, Mary Catherine Robinson, reported that no more supplies are needed, as they are receiving supplies from other churches and organizations. They are grateful for the outpouring from the community.
• The church is accepting donations for the services they have been and continue to supply to the community.
• Their focus continues to be feeding people. Their feeding location has been relocated to the Rail Yard on Richardson Avenue. All BM feeding locations have been consolidated to the Rail Yard, which is open for free meals from 11:00a-6:00p daily.
• Volunteers are needed at the Rail Yard for serving and at the church for sorting and organizing supplies.
• The Baptist Church is shutting down its relief efforts. The medical/mental health services will relocate to a location to be announced.
• Health Ridge Pharmacy on Route 70 is open and needs volunteers for hospitality. Other open pharmacies are Sunshine, CVS, and Ingles.

Questions:

Q: What is the water situation now?

A: One of the two water storage tanks is full and the other, larger tank is in process, but filling slowly due to two of the well pumps being inoperable and the largest well pump without power. But it is likely most residents will have water soon. Higher locations are the ones without water at this time. We appreciate your patience as we repair the water system.

Q: Will there be a bulk/debris pickup?

A: Yes, but it is not yet scheduled. However, please DO NOT take materials to Welch Field for dumping.

Q: Is there an effort to clean the Post Office so they can return?

A: Yes there is.

Q: Does water still have to be boiled for drinking?

A: Yes, the boiling advisory is still in effect. Please bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. We will alert you when the advisory has been lifted. The same holds true for water from the Wynne-Lithia spring.

Q: Do you have any information when power will be restored?

A: Unfortunately, no. Duke has not been in touch with Town officials. We estimate that 60% of Montreat residents have power. Please check the Duke website at https://outagemap.duke-energy.com/#/current-outages/ncsc for outage information. Residents have been calling Duke at 800-777-9898 to report outages. DO NOT assume they know you don’t have power.

Q: I need a chainsaw and two people to remove a downed tree in my yard. Know where I can arrange for it?

A: There are various resources available:

• The Rail Yard has a sign posted offering tree removal services
• First Baptist has a volunteer group that is doing such work
• Stop by the Chamber of Commerce tent in Black Mountain, as they have a list of volunteers and services provided

Q: Chief Eaton, were the people you stopped yesterday looters?

A:  Probably not, but be wary of people driving around offering services when they don’t have any tools in their vehicles or have empty trailers. Again, call the dispatch number at 828-250-6670.

Q:  Will the extra police officers be posted at the gate?

A:  No, not necessarily. They will augment the patrols by our officers. Be assured we will have plenty of eyes on the streets and homes in Montreat.

The next Town meeting will be Friday, October 11, at 9:00am at Assembly Inn.