Community Meeting Summary – Oct. 21, 2024

Town Manager, Savannah Parrish, opened the meeting with several very positive updates. Notes from today’s meeting include:
• The boiled drinking water advisory was lifted on Friday. Water from the tap is now drinkable without having to boil it.
• The Post Office has returned to its permanent offices and is fully functioning
• Curbside trash service begins today
• As you walk around Montreat, please be on the lookout for unusual and unfamiliar water flows. We are still experiencing occasional water line breaks. Contact the Town offices (828-669-8002) if you observe water flowing where it probably shouldn’t.
• There will be a special called Town Council meeting on Friday, October 25th, at 10:00am in Convocation Hall of Assembly Inn. The purpose of the meeting will be to conduct essential Town business and discuss hurricane related issues. The agenda is available by CLICKING HERE. The meeting will not be live streamed, although it will be recorded and posted to the website.
• Heavy construction equipment is still very active in Montreat. Please give the equipment wide berth. There have been several close calls with passenger vehicles.
• Town offices are still in temporary quarters in Convocation Hall, with normal hours from 8:00am to 5:00pm. In the near future, the offices will move to the meeting room off the first floor registration lobby in Assembly Inn until the permanent move back to Town Hall.
• Although Buncombe County has not declared a burn ban on debris, we are asking residents not to burn hurricane debris. Instead, organic material may be taken to the overflow parking area at the intersection of Lookout and Oklahoma Roads. Please do not dump debris in Welch Field.
Questions:
Q: Is the water from Wynne-Lithia spring drinkable?
A: The spring water is not tested and is not treated. It is suspected of having E.coli, but not confirmed. If the spring water is used for consumption, it should be boiled.
Q: With all the dried mud, dust is everywhere. Is it a problem with air quality?
A: Given the circumstances, our air quality is OK. The Buncombe County Health Department has not issued any air quality warnings. Drivers are encouraged to proceed slowly so as not to stir up clouds of dust.
Q: What have we learned from this catastrophe to help us in the future?
A: That’s a very good question, and we will be discussing it for months to come. The Town Council will begin those discussions at its Friday meeting.
Today’s Town Meeting is the last one scheduled due to the progress of restoration. Of course, we will continue to evaluate and discuss it.
We sincerely thank all the residents, staff, relief workers, contractors and others for helping us navigate this challenging time.