Montreat Minute for January 2, 2026

January 2, 2026

Happy New Year from the Town Council and Staff

The Town Council and staff wish all Montreaters Happy New Year. We hope and pray that 2026 will be a positive year for you and your family.

Town Council Meeting Thursday, January 8, at 6:00pm

The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting next Thursday, January 8th, at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall Community Room. The Public Forum precedes the Council Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. The agenda and streaming information will be available on the website.

Live Christmas Tree Pickup

Town staff will be collecting live Christmas trees placed at the roadside over the coming week. Please be sure to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, stands, and any other metal or non-organic items before placing your tree out for pickup.

Thank you for helping us ensure safe and efficient collection!

Cold Weather Suggestions

Although we are only 12 days into winter, we have already encountered sub-freezing temperatures and we can certainly expect more. The American Red Cross offers tips to stay safe during cold weather:

  1. Layer up! Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat help prevent losing body heat.
  2. Don’t forget your furry friends. Bring pets indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
  3. Remember the three feet rule. If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away.
  4. Don’t catch fire! If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
  5. Protect your pipes. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Keep garage doors closed. Wind is often the culprit causing frozen pipes.
  6. Unhook your hoses. Hoses that are still connected to hose bibs can cause the pipes to break, so unscrew hoses from the hose outlets.
  7. Better safe than sorry. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you can avoid costly repair bills if pipes freeze and burst.

With all the part-time residences in Montreat, Public Works Director, Barry Creasman, suggests keeping an eye on your neighbors’ homes too. Watch for signs of broken water pipes including condensation on the inside of windows. Look for doors and windows that may have been blown open during high winds. Your neighbors will appreciate your diligence.

Updates and Reminders

  • The Montreat Landcare Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 7th, at 9:00 am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live-streamed. Streaming instructions are available by CLICKING HERE.
  • The Montreat Audit Committee will also meet on Wednesday, January 7th, at 3:30 pm in the Town Hall Conference Room. The meeting will not be live-streamed, but all are invited to attend. The agenda, including the 2024-2025 Audit, is available by CLICKING HERE.
  • 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!
  • Do you receive Montreat Code Red alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane? If not and you would like to be added to the list, email info@townofmontreat.org and provide your name and phone number to be called in the event of an emergency.

Questions or Comments?

Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angela Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend.

Leave a Comment