Montreat officials say Town Hall repairs expected within two weeks as crews prioritize hurricane recovery

The Town of Montreat Board of Commissioners met Jan. 9, 2025, in Convocation Hall and heard updates on hurricane recovery operations and an impending winter storm. Mayor Tim Helms opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. and urged residents to be patient with repair timelines and to "proceed with caution" if snow accumulates, noting that many roads remain damaged by the recent hurricane.

Why it matters: The board's briefing outlined immediate operational constraints for public works and short-term expectations for municipal facilities. Repairs to Town Hall and continuous public-works staffing are intended to keep essential services running while crews work through road and infrastructure damage from Hurricane Helene.

During the meeting, Mayor Tim Helms told attendees that Public Works crews were prioritizing repairs based on the crews' available expertise and personnel that day and that salt would not be effective on many damaged surfaces. Instead, crews will sand roads, which officials warned does not perform the same as salt in melting ice. "Please be patient if work was not getting done as fast as expected," Helms said.

In public comment, resident George Sawyer of 324 Chapman Road praised the town's response, saying the public-works and administrative staff had done "remarkable work under somewhat difficult circumstances" and that "no one should be complaining about any of the Staff of the Town of Montreat."

Town Manager Savannah Parrish gave a status update on municipal facilities and winter-prep resources, saying repairs to Town Hall "should be completed within the next two weeks" and directing residents to cold-weather guidance on the town website. Parrish also said members of Public Works would be working throughout the upcoming Friday and overnight to respond to the expected inclement weather.

The meeting included two procedural motions: Commissioner Kitty Fouche moved to approve the agenda as presented; Commissioner Tom Widmer seconded, and the motion carried 5–0. At the close of the session, Commissioner Jane Alexander moved to adjourn, Commissioner Grant Dasher seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:38 p.m. by unanimous vote.

Board members recorded as present were Mayor Tim Helms; Mayor Pro Tem Mason Blake; and Commissioners Kitty Fouche, Grant Dasher, Tom Widmer and Jane Alexander. Town staff in attendance included Town Manager Savannah Parrish and Town Clerk Angie Murphy; Finance Officer Rachel Eddings, Zoning Administrator Kayla DiCristina and Town Attorney Brandon Freeman were listed as present in the meeting record. Approximately eight members of the public attended in person, with additional participants on Zoom.

What happens next: Officials did not take further formal action on recovery priorities at this meeting; Town staff will continue repairs and winter-readiness operations and will post updates and cold-weather tips on the town’s website.