Montreat Minute for June 12, 2026
Mayor’s Summary of the June 11, 2026 Town Council Meeting
Fellow Montreaters,
Unofficial summer has arrived and the face of Montreat has taken on its summer countenance. Ready for some action and activity?
As I have said before, I do these summaries so you know what is happening in our Town immediately after our Town Council meeting. That way, you don’t have to wait a month for the official minutes in next month’s agenda packet. If you want, you can view tonight’s meeting recording by CLICKING HERE.
Public Forum
- Letta Jean Taylor suggested cross walk signs be placed at the Georgia Terrace and Assembly Drive intersection. She also asked about why the cell tower has not been aesthetically refurbished. She also asked what an “ad valorem tax drop” meant in the budget proposal. Savannah explained that it was a term describing the latest iteration of tax rate variations.
To read more, CLICK HERE
Montreat 2026-2027 Budget Update
As explained in last night’s Town Council meeting, the Montreat budget is temporarily on hold. Despite the fact that staff and Town Council have been working on the budget since March, the NC legislature has been arguing about whether property revaluation will go into effect for the ’26-’27 budget.
The Town Council and staff will have a fourth Budget Workshop on Monday, June 29th, at 10:00 am in the Town Hall Community Room to finalize the budget— expecting that the state legislature will have resolved the issue of revaluation.
Clean Water!
Once again, we are pleased to report that Montreat has good, clean drinking water as assessed by required water testing and reporting standards. The 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report was recently released and may be accessed by CLICKING HERE. Please read the report to find out the sources of our water, what the EPA wants us to know about drinking water, characteristics of our water, and much more.
As you may know, there are some unique aspects about Montreat water. Here’s the background: Every summer and other popular seasons when the Town population increases, water demand increases as well. With the increase comes a unique aspect to our water: air bubbles, which create initial “milkiness” to the water. An explanation follows, but first a quick primer on how the water system works.
Our water comes from 11 wells situated throughout the Town, from down by the gate all the way up to the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) off Greybeard Trail. Water is treated from each well then distributed either directly to homes and other dwellings/buildings or pumped into storage tanks located on Appalachian Way and Harmony Lane. The tanks provide water when demand increases. When populations increase in the summer and other popular seasons, significantly more water is drawn through the system. Pumps work overtime, with air getting in the water caused by the pumping action. Because demand is great, the bubbles do not have an opportunity to dissipate, and they end up in your water glass. Within seconds they disappear, but not without first causing a bit of consternation.
But as mentioned earlier, our water quality is high and those bubbles won’t hurt you. Our water is tested monthly by an independent laboratory, with results reported to the State and Montreat governments. What happens with the air bubbles is simply unique to our situation and has no effect upon water quality.
Please know that it is our independent well water system that allowed the town to have water within 10 days of Hurricane Helene in 2024, with the water boil advisory lifted a week later. Surrounding communities including Black Mountain, Asheville, Woodfin, and Weaverville were without water for as long as two months.
Many thanks to our staff responsible for water and water quality, especially Jarod McIntosh and Barry Creasman.
Montreat Adult Summer Club Announces Summer Speakers
The Montreat Adult Summer Club has announced the lineup for its July summer speaker series. Speakers begin on July 8th for four successive Wednesdays. Here’s the schedule:
July 8: Dr. John Lafferty, a life-long student of history, will share about the significant role of the Scots-Irish before and during the revolutionary war. John will talk about John Witherspoon, James Madison, and other reformation heroes and the battles they endured, including the overwhelming victory at Kings Mountain. John will leave us with an appreciation for the importance of this unique group of people on our nation’s founding and guiding principles today.
July 15: Josh Goforth is a highly acclaimed storyteller and old-time bluegrass musician, having performed his music and storytelling around the world. Josh grew up in Madison County surrounded by the music and stories of the mountains and his ancestors. Come enjoy Josh’s musical and storytelling talents for a memorable afternoon of entertainment.
July 23: Deke Arndt is a meteorologist and climate scientist at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA). Deke will present an historical retrospective of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest cyclone in the U.S. since Katrina, which caused billions of dollars of damage in Western North Carolina. Deke will explain how this historic hurricane fits into our understanding of weather and climate history.
July 29: Anne Chesky, Presbyterian Heritage Center Executive Director, will speak about Presbyterian pastor Rev. Dr. John Mack Walker who had a passion for Gospel stories. Through that passion, he began carving statues representing 64 different Bible stories. His carvings reflect both their “matter-of-factness and mystery.” He based many of the figures on real people he knew and carved them in 20th-century attire. Anne will be displaying some of the 29 statues the PHC has in its collection.
Summer Club programs are free and begin at 2:30 pm in Graham Chapel, followed by refreshments. Put these dates into your calendar now.
Updates and Reminders
- Just a quick “heads up” that 4th of July Barbeque tickets will be on sale from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Montreat Post Office from Monday, June 22nd through Thursday, July 2nd (excluding Sunday, June 28th). They will also be on sale during business hours from 9:00 am through 12:00 pm at the Montreat General Store and The Red Radish on Black Mountain Avenue. More info 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 Code Redalerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane and wildfires? To learn more about Code Red or to be added to the list, CLICK HERE
Questions or Comments?
Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angie Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a great weekend!
