Montreat Minute for September 11, 2026

September 11, 2026

Town Council Meeting

Seal of Montreat, North Carolina, featuring a stone gate with Montreat above, trees on both sides, and the year 1967 below, all within a circular orange border.

The September Town Council meeting was held Thursday, September 10. As always, if you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording on the Town of Montreat’s YouTube channel.

Watch Town Council Meetings on YouTube

Remembering September 11

The American flag waves in the wind, featuring red and white stripes and a blue field in the top left corner with white stars.

On September 11, we pause to remember the lives lost and the families, friends, and communities forever changed by the events of September 11, 2001.

We also honor the courage and selflessness of the first responders, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency workers, and ordinary citizens who stepped forward to help others during one of our nation’s darkest days.

Twenty-five years later, we remember, we honor, and we reflect on the strength and resilience that carried our country forward.

Convenience Center Now Operating Under Key Fob System

Two large dumpsters, one blue and one gray, are placed on gravel with wooden railings and signs between them. Trees and a small dark building are visible in the background.

The Convenience Center is now operating under the new key fob access system. To enter, simply wave your key fob in front of the black verifier box as you approach the gate. The gate will automatically unlock. Once inside, the gate will close automatically behind you. To leave, simply push the bar on the gate.

A few important reminders about the new system:

  • The Convenience Center is available 24/7. However, the Montreat Police Department and Public Works recommend using the Center between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. for safety reasons.
  • One key fob is issued per household.
  • There is no charge for the initial key fob.
  • If your key fob is lost, it will be deactivated and there will be a charge for the replacement fob.
  • The Convenience Center is for Montreat households and their guests and is intended for household trash and recyclables only.

The new system is designed to help ensure that the Convenience Center remains available when you need it by limiting use to Montreat residents and their guests. With controlled access, we also expect to see fewer instances of completely full dumpsters.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we implement this new system. There will be time at the October Town Council meeting for residents to share their experiences and suggestions.

Sanitation Ordinance Update: October 1 Enforcement Begins

A sign with a black bear silhouette, the words KEEP BEARS WILD inside it, and the text Bear Aware in green above, on a green and white background.

A reminder that October 1 is an important date for Montreat’s revised Sanitation Ordinance.

The revised ordinance was adopted by the Town Council earlier this year, with the requirement for bear-resistant containers and containment systems delayed until October 1 to give residents time to prepare.

Beginning October 1, trash placed at the curbside must be contained in a functional Bear-Resistant Container (BRC) or a functional Bear-Resistant Container System (BRC System). Non-bear-resistant containers cannot be placed at the curb, even if they are only there for a short period of time.

If you keep a non-bear-resistant trash can in a locked garage or other secure storage area and take your trash to the Convenience Center, you do not need to replace that container with a BRC. The requirement applies when containers are placed at the curb for Town collection.

What happens if I don’t comply?

Beginning October 1, violations of the BRC and BRC System requirements will be subject to enforcement under the ordinance:

  • First offense: Written warning from Town staff
  • Second offense: $200 civil penalty
  • Third and subsequent offenses: $400 civil penalty per incident
  • Third and subsequent violations may also result in suspension of trash pickup, at the discretion of the Town Manager.

If you are unsure whether your container or containment system meets the requirements, please contact Town staff before October 1. You can email trash@townofmontreat.org to request that your container be inspected and certified. If it meets the requirements, Town staff will affix a “Bear Aware” sticker.

The goal of these changes is simple: keep bears wild and keep our community safe. Bears that repeatedly find food in residential trash become accustomed to people and can become a serious public safety concern. By properly securing our trash, we can help reduce bear activity around homes and throughout Montreat.

For more information about the revised Sanitation Ordinance, including previously published questions and answers and information about approved BRCs and containment systems, please visit the Town’s website.

Updates and Reminders

A hand writes the word REMINDERS in black uppercase letters, underlining it with a red line.
  • Save the Date: On Tuesday, September 29th, the Cottagers are sponsoring a “Meet the Montreat Candidates” Open House. Although the election is uncontested, the Cottagers are giving Montreaters the opportunity to meet and get to know the three candidates who are running for Town Council. Come to the Town Hall Community Room from 4:30 to 5:30.
  • Landcare, Wednesday, October 2, 2026, 9 am in Town Hall.
  • October Town Council Meeting, Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6 pm in Town Hall.
  • Tree Board, Thursday, October 13, 2026, 9am – 10am in Town Hall.
  • Planning and Zoning Commission, October 15, 2026, 10:30 am.
  • 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 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? Please send them to Angie Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you.

Have a great weekend!