Montreat Minute for April 10, 2026
Mayor’s Summary of the April 9, 2026 Town Council Meeting
Greetings!
I awoke to 33 degrees this morning, and just before meeting time it was 63. I’m not sure what season we are in! But the warm afternoon weather, and perhaps the agenda, brought a good crowd to the Town Hall for our monthly meeting.
As I have said before, I do these summaries so you know what is happening in our Town immediately and so you don’t have to wait a month for the official minutes in next month’s agenda packet.
Public Forum
- Tom Frist asked what the Town policy was on food trucks, ice cream trucks, and the like. Town Manager Savannah Parrish responded that it varies depending on circumstances such as the type of event, location, timing and other factors. I told Tom that if he was thinking of operating an ice cream truck, he could park it at my house.
To read the full Meeting Report, CLICK HERE.
Statewide Burn Ban Still in Effect
A reminder that the North Carolina Forest Service still has a statewide open burning ban due to extreme fire danger conditions including low humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels.
There is still an abundance of fire fuel on the ground as a result of the hurricane, creating ideal conditions for uncontrolled wildfires. Be sure to clear debris, including downed trees, limbs, leaves and other fuel, from your own property to provide a defensive barrier for your home.
Sanitation Ordinance Q & A
Recently we began sharing Sanitation Ordinance Q & A’s to keep Montreaters informed about the newly revised ordinance. For questions about the revisions, please contact Town staff by email trash@townofmontreat.org or call 828/669-8002.
Here are more Q&A’s from the Q & A document. For the entire document, CLICK HERE.
Q: Sometimes I have more trash than my container can hold, so I put the extra trash bags on top or on the side of the can. That’s OK isn’t it?
A: No, all solid waste and recycle bags must fit into the bear resistant container or permanent BRC system with the lid securely latched or locked. If you have extra bags, the Convenience Center is still available for disposal of your additional solid waste and recyclables.
Q: Where do I get these BRCs and BRC systems?
A: The Town will be providing a list of BRCs and BRC systems for you to review and purchase on your own.
Q: What has changed about disposing of solid waste and recyclables?
A: Besides being contained in bear resistant containers (BRCs)/BRC permanent systems, nothing much.
Q: Do we still have to put solid waste and recyclables in bags or can we dump them loose into the cans?
A: All solid waste and recyclables still have to be in bags, just like before. Nothing loose. They can be in the same BRC or BRC system, but the sanitation workers must be able to tell the difference. Recyclables should be in blue or clear plastic bags tied at the top, just like before. Solid waste can be in any color bag except blue or clear.
Have You Seen MRA’s New Mural?
Thanks to Hurricane Helene, MRA’s boardwalk from Robert Lake Park to the Walkup building had to be rerouted and completely rebuilt last year. If you haven’t walked it recently, you’re in for a delightful surprise.
The new boardwalk parallels the foundation of the Bell Building, one of three buildings making up the Raspberry Center. MRA staff recognized that it would be a perfect location for a Montreat-themed wall mural. Martha Sloan, MRA Director of Donor Engagement, identified an Asheville based mural and sign painter, Scott Allred, owner of Brushcan Mural and Sign. Martha and Scott began talking about the mural’s theme and it developed quickly. The inspiration was Montreat’s “flora and fauna”. Martha gave Scott ideas for the subjects and Scott began researching images to paint. The result is an 80’ long by 8’ high mural filled with realistic paintings of some of our favorite outdoor living things, including a bear (of course!), Flat Creek, a piebald deer, dogwood trees, azaleas, a pesky squirrel, a brook trout, galax plants, and so much more.
Funding was obtained through the generosity of First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg. Due to logistical and weather challenges of the site, Scott decided to paint the mural indoors and apply it to the foundation wall when finished. However, his Asheville studio is only 30’ long, which caused some creative problem solving for Scott. He ended up doing the acrylic painting in three, 27’ sections, then attaching them to the foundation wall. He completed the project just last month.
The mural is beautifully painted and will be enjoyed for generations. Scott was particularly inspired by the project. He moved to the Asheville area 25 years ago and one of the first places he went to was Montreat and Robert Lake Park with his then young daughter. “Coming through the gate the first time doesn’t seem real,” Scott commented. “Montreat has a special place in my heart and it was an honor to paint this mural.”
Don’t miss this special treat brought to you by Martha, Scott, MRA and FPC Spartanburg. To see more of the mural in an online video and other projects by Scott, go to his Facebook page at @brushcan.
Montreat Landcare Festival and Arbor Day Celebration Tomorrow, April 11th
What began in 2012 as the Montreat Native Plant Sale is now the Montreat Landcare Festival and Arbor Day Celebration. Come tomorrow, Saturday, April 11th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Moore Field to celebrate the region’s native flora and fauna, explore simple steps to sustain them, and learn about initiatives to strengthen the cove environment. Plant vendors, local artists, Master Gardeners, information booths, and more will be featured. For more information, CLICK HERE
Updates and Reminders
- The Montreat Stone Bridges Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, April 13th, at 10:00 am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will not be live streamed. All are welcome to attend.
- The Montreat Tree Board will meet on Tuesday, April 14th, at 9:00 am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. For streaming instructions CLICK HERE. All are welcome to attend.
- The Montreat Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, April 16th, at 10:30 am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. For a copy of the agenda and streaming instructions CLICK HERE. All are welcome to attend.
- Buncombe County Election Services will be conducting an information session on April 28th, at the Black Mountain Library for those interested in running for office in Black Mountain and Montreat this November. For more information and to RSVP, CLICK HERE. All are welcome to attend. Watch for details in weeks to come.
- 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 CodeRED alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane? If not, CLICK HERE to register and ensure you will be contacted 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 good weekend!
