Montreat officials outline expanded Lake Susan restoration and post-storm cleanup timeline

Montreat officials and Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) representatives updated residents on recovery work after Hurricane Helene during a Dec. 12 public forum at Convocation Hall.

Seth Hagler, representing the Mountain Retreat Association, said Convocation Hall renovations are ongoing and that a college conference with 493 students is expected to be the first group to use the facility. He outlined a three-phase plan for restoring Lake Susan: primary bed lake dredging (completed), construction of an 8–12-foot wetland shelf on the college side (underway), and a planned phase to redirect Flat Creek above the pedestrian bridge to its historical channel to reduce future storm damage. Hagler said sediment-removal estimates have risen from an original 6,500 cubic yards to about 25,000 cubic yards by project completion.

Town Manager Savannah Parrish gave an update on storm debris removal at Welch Field, sometimes referred to as the 'dustbowl.' Parrish said contractors will make one more sweep through town next week and then town staff will contact Ash Britt, a contractor used by FEMA, to haul the debris away. She said on-site chipping was ruled out for safety reasons and estimated the final removal would take "within two weeks to one month," adding, "the end is in sight."

Parrish also said the Greybeard Waterline Project is close to, if not already, finished. She reported that the Texas Road Bridge sustained significant damage during Hurricane Helene, was deemed a safety hazard, and had to be removed.

During public comment, resident Tom Frist raised safety concerns about an MRA-owned pedestrian bridge between Anderson Auditorium and the college parking lot that he crosses weekly. Mayor Pro Tem Mason Blake said he had previously researched ownership questions; Tanner Pickett of the MRA said he would look into reported post-Helene damage. Hagler told the forum the Lake Susan contractor had secured a disposal site in Swannanoa that will accept both fine and rough fill. Frist also asked about contractors temporarily parking equipment on trailers in the MRA gate parking lot; Pickett said contractors should check in with the MRA main office before parking.

Procedural items at the start and end of the session included a motion by Commissioner Jane Alexander to adopt the agenda, seconded by Commissioner Tom Widmer and carried 3/0, and a motion by Commissioner Kitty Fouche to adjourn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mason Blake and carried 4/0. The meeting opened at 5:30 p.m. and adjourned at 5:46 p.m.

Officials did not provide firm dates for completion of the Lake Susan project or a full schedule for the bridge inspection; Parrish's debris-removal estimate remains an administrative timeline rather than a binding deadline. Residents with safety concerns about the MRA bridge were told MRA staff would investigate and follow up.