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Canton board praises storm preparation, accepts Haywood Honors award and hears infrastructure updates
Summary
Board members thanked public-safety and town staff for preparedness during a severe-weather event, received a Haywood Honors award for staff work on a job fair after a mill closure, and heard an update that the Rhoda Street project will go to bid once two easements are secured.
At the Town of Canton’s Jan. 11 meeting Mayor Smathers and board members thanked police, fire and town staff for their communications and on-the-ground work during a recent severe-weather event, saying improved coordination and planned flood‑mitigation measures helped calm residents and business owners.
David Francis, Haywood County economic director, presented the Haywood Honors award to town staff for organizing a job fair at Pinnacle Church after a local mill closure; Mayor Smathers extended the recognition to Finance Officer Natalie Walker and Assistant Manager/Clerk Lisa Stinnett. Manager Scheuer praised staff for the community outreach and emphasized the importance of resiliency projects.
Scheuer updated the board that the Rhoda Street project is awaiting two remaining easements before it is put out to bid in early February, with construction expected to start that month. He said securing funding and designing long‑term flood mitigation were priorities following Tropical Storm Fred.
The board also conducted routine business: approving the Dec. 14, 2023 minutes and setting the next meeting for Jan. 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall. The board met in closed session twice under North Carolina statute N.C.G.S. 143‑318.11(a)(4) and (a)(6); the minutes record the times the board entered and exited each closed session but do not disclose closed-session details. Mayor Smathers asked the board to honor the recent death of Fred Chapel during the meeting.
