Town Council Work Session-Action Meeting Summary - March 28, 2025

The Lake Lure Town Council held a Special Work Session and Action Meeting on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 8:30 AM. 

• This meeting is normally held on the 4th Wednesday of the month but the date had to be changed to this date due to scheduling conflicts. 

• The meeting was held in the Lake Lure Fire Department at 622 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure, NC 28746. 

• The public was invited to attend. 

The following is a summary of the meeting for those who were unable to attend.  This summary is not considered formal minutes which will be included in the following month's Town Council Meeting Packet.

I. Call to Order

Mayor Pritchett called the meeting to order.

II. Agenda Adoption

The agenda was approved as written. 

III. Eagle Scout Project Amendment

Eagle Scout Emerson Ansley previously provided Council with a proposal to construct memorial benches for the Town. Mr. Ansley has provided the Town Manager with the following update message:

"The Eagle Project leaders in my troop have stated that the memorial benches may not be enough to fulfill the criteria to achieve Eagle Rank. They suggest a "Little Library" to supplement the benches. The Little Library design I am looking at building will be a smaller version of the Lakeside Chapel. It will contain a Bible, a Hymnal, and perhaps some spiritual books. I am including a picture of an example of a Little Library in front of a chapel that is similar to design of that chapel. This is to give you an idea of what the Scout Leaders are proposing that we alter compared to our original plan. The project will now consist of two memorial benches and the Little Library. I wanted to confirm that this would be ok with you before we move on to the next steps."

Town Council approved the project.

IV. Public Service Building Proposal

The Town has been in the process of planning to relocate the Public Works building to the Green Space property. Public Services Director Dean Lindsey has solicited bids for this project and the winning bidder was Emmanuel Construction. Emmanuel Construction has provided a proposal to be reviewed by Town Council. Please see the drawings of the building below.

Town Council reviewed the proposal and approved the plans for the project to move forward.

V. Capital Project Ordinance Bridge Loan

Ordinance No. 23-05-24 establishes a capital project fund for Water and Waste Water System Project, as required to account for all debt proceeds used to finance capital projects. Town staff recommends that Council adopt Ordinance No. 23-05-24 pursuant to G.S. 159-13.2.  This capital project ordinance adheres to the requirement of the Bridge Loan Offer by the State’s DWI Division.

Town Council approved Ordinance No. 23-05-24.

VI. Resolution 25-03-26 Accepting State Bridge Loan

• Stephen Ford, Finance Director presented to the board the acceptance of the State Bridge Loan.
• He advised that Town staff received guidance related to an offer of $200,000 in the form of a technical grant that can be used in conjunction with the bridge loan offered for the Town's Water and Waste Water Treatment Systems.
• Originally, the Town was offered a $3 million loan which was recently approved by Town Council.
• Staff will work towards completing all additional requirements for accepting the loan and the grant, as updated with this additional guidance.

Town Council approved Resolution 25-03-26 for the Capital Project Ordinance Bridge Loan.

VII. Storm Updates

• Mayor Pritchett and Mayor Pro Tem DiOrio attended meetings in Washington DC this week to keep Lake Lure in the forefront of everyone's mind.

• Town Manager Olivia Stewman advised that she and Chief Waycaster met with FEMA for onsite inspections for Town Hall, Marina, and the Welcome Center in response to the Town's request for funding for these flooded facilities. She advised that the Town should have the reports of their findings from FEMA very soon. 

• FEMA has approved the mission assignment for subsurface debris, silt, and sedimentation removal from the Lake.  The next step is finalization of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract for this work.  USACE is mobilized and ready to move forward as soon as this contract is finalized. 

• The Town has been awaiting FEMA's historic presentation assessment to determine next steps with the Flowering Bridge due to the tremendous destruction from Hurricane Helene.  Once this assessment is complete, the Town will work with the USACE to salvage historical artifacts as a memorial to this exceptional landmark. 

• Community Development Director Michael Williams has completed a draft of the demolition of Lake Structures and this has been sent to FEMA.

• An offer has been mailed to Chloe Moore for the purchase of property needed for the West-end sewer project.  Town officials have also been working on a possible sewer line alternative with the owners of Fae Nectar. It may be more costly, but more efficient for the Town to own the line. A proposal will be developed and presented to Town Council in the near future. 

• Public Services Director Dean Lindsey advised that the NC Department of Environmental Control (DEQ) has given the Town a sewer allocation of about 84,000 gallons per day. This allocation is for all new sewer connections. All connections already on the sewer system prior to storm are accounted for separately.  Town officials have met with Chimney Rock Village officials to discuss a grant for a study on the area.  

• Parks, Recreation, and Lake Director Dana Bradley advised that work will be ongoing in Buffalo Creek Park to reconnect the trails to the parking lot. The National Guard is mobilized but they are awaiting State approval for their funding. 

• Public Services Director Dean Lindsey advised that testing for the reservoir drain valve went well.  The project is largely complete though they do have a few small things to do to finalize the wrap-up everything.  

• He also reported that the West-end sewer project is underway and is going well.  The project is expected to take 4 months to complete depending on the length of time for drilling.

• The Proctor Road project is set to start in May.

• The clean-up in Morse Park continues and we are working on an opening date. A portion of the field was given back as it is not needed by contractors for debris removal.  

• The current lake levels are 985 Mean Sea Level (MSL).  The plan is to lower the Lake down to 978 MSL. 

• Lobbyist Mike Hager stated there is a few bills in the works for Hurricane Helene relief. Money is being allocated to different areas and may be available to the Town.  He is following this closely.

• Evan Smith with FEMA advised recovery centers are closing and April 7^th, 2025 is the deadline for registration for FEMA funding.

• Sean Humphries, gave praise to AshBritt. Officers located a driver working for AshBritt with a suspended license.  They addressed this quickly and he thanked them for their expeditious response. 

• Communications Director Laura Krejci reminder Council Members that the Asheville Citizen Times will be here Wednesday April 2^nd, 2025 to begin interviews regarding the Hurricane Helene recovery.

• She also provided an overview of the Mountain BizWorks grant that downtown businesses could apply for up to 25,000.  This information has been posted on the website for business owners.

• She noted that the WNC Small Business Grants has had about 7,000 applicants.

• The Town continues to receive a lot of questions about the road opening between Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village.  The DriveNC website indicates that the road will not be open until 4/30/26 but local authorities have indicated that the road will be open in May 2025 so there is confusion around this. 

• Rowing teams have reached out and are hopeful they may be able to use the Lake in March 2026.  This would be a great opportunity to celebrate reopening the Lake if we can commit to this date.  We could invite multiple rowing teams to town to help us re-open the Lake with a big splash!

• There was a marketing meeting with Don Cason and his team on Monday.  We hope to collaborate more closely with them to promote the Town of lake Lure.  Mrs. Krejci asked if the next Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Coffee Talk could be held in Lake Lure in June so businesses could participate. 

• Finance Director Stephen Ford advised that money was deposited into the bank on Monday from the approved loan. He is continuing to work on the insurance claim and will provide updates when more information is available

• Ms. Stewman advised that she spoke with the Moore family regarding the potential of purchasing property from her.  These discussions are ongoing.

VIII. Town Manager/Project updates

• Fire Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator Dustin Waycaster met with officers and volunteers at the Fairfield Fire Department.

• New firefighters have been hired and are being trained.  

• In April 2025 they will vote to merge with the Lake Lure Fire Department and will also assign any remaining assets to the Town of Lake Lure.

• The quote for the sprinkler system and remodel for the building came in at $120,000.

• Next week Lake Lure Fire Department will begin to have veteran staff at Fairfield Fire Department.

• The brush truck is currently out of order and being repaired. 

• Chief Waycaster thanked Human Resources Coordinator Jennifer Duncan and Finance Director Steve Ford for working so hard to ensure staff had health insurance for staff.  

XI. Public Comments

• Pat Buede (Memorial Highway, Lake Lure): Ms. Buede asked the following questions.
  • Are there any updates on Lago Vista Road as a second entrance/egress to Chimney Rock State Park?  Mayor Pritchett advised that the Town was still pursuing this and working on a budget for estimated costs. A design has been developed and we hope to have a cost estimate soon. 
  • What is the scope for the Marina sediment removal? Ms. Stewman advised that the Town has submitted a requested scope to FEMA but we have not received the specific details of the contract or the mission assignment through FEMA or the USACE. We are hopeful the scope that was submitted will be used to move forward. 
  • During the Town Council meetings it is hard to hear any way to increase microphones? Mayor Pritchett advised that they will work on using the microphones better.
  • Are we working on the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program? Ms. Stewman advised that the Town has asked for this in the scope of work.
  • Is there damage to Memorial Bridge, Tryon Bay Bridge, and Lake Lure Dam Bridge? Chief Waycaster advised that NC DOT was okay with the bridges after their initial inspections. We anticipate another inspection once sediment removal is completed.
  • Lastly, Ms. Buede thanked Town Council for all their hard work and dedication to the Town.

There were no other public comments. 

X. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned.