Lake Lure Officials to Discuss Dam, Hurricane Recovery, and Operations This Week

Lake Lure’s Town Council will meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Town Hall at The Landings, for their normally scheduled monthly meeting with an agenda covering storm recovery, infrastructure planning, and government operations.

The meeting comes more than 16 months after Hurricane Helene, as the town manages ongoing recovery and operational continuity. Agenda items include ceremonial recognitions, advisory board updates, project briefings, and routine approvals such as prior meeting minutes.

Town Manager Olivia Stewman will provide a general operational briefing, giving council members updates on projects not listed on the formal agenda. The session opens with a proclamation honoring municipal staff for their response to recent winter weather, praising their “professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the community.”

Finance Director Steve Ford remains out for an extended period, with staff and outside support handling financial operations. The agenda packet did not specify the reason for his absence or a return date.

A key policy discussion will consider an alternate alignment for a replacement dam, part of long-term infrastructure planning tied to hurricane recovery. Decisions on alignment can affect design, permitting, cost, and environmental review.

The council also plans a closed session under state law for attorney-client consultation, though the subject of the discussion is not disclosed.

Town meetings are open to the public, but video recordings have not been posted by the town since the hurricane. Officials encourage attendees to document proceedings for public review.

The meeting follows the Feb. 6 announcement that Lake Lure refilling has begun now that the Tainter gates to the dam were repaired, a key component to limit water flow downstream along the Broad River. Officials said the process is gradual, weather-dependent, and that water quality remains normal. If conditions allow, the lake could reopen for public use by Memorial Day weekend.