Lake Lure Town Council Honors Officer, Celebrates Recovery, and Moves Forward on Major Infrastructure Projects

The Lake Lure Town Council convened on Oct. 14 for its regular monthly meeting, where officials recognized a local police officer for bravery, received updates on storm recovery, and approved several administrative changes as the town continues rebuilding from last year’s devastating floods.

Officer Willett Commended for Heroic Rescue

Mayor Carol Pritchett opened the meeting with a proclamation recognizing Officer Jeffrey Willett for his decisive actions during a September 1 incident at Chimney Rock State Park. According to the resolution, Willett helped de-escalate a mental health crisis after a man fled from park rangers and attempted to jump from the ledge at the top of Chimney Rock.

The proclamation praised Willett for “courage, professionalism, and compassion” in saving the individual’s life.

Town Manager Reports Progress — and Delays

Town Manager Olivia Stewman delivered a detailed progress report on infrastructure and recovery efforts.

• Cell Tower Construction: The long-awaited tower is under construction and expected to be completed by December 8. Service providers will include AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

  
  

• Public Safety Upgrades: The town received $185,000 from the Rutherford County Tourism Back to Beautiful Fund for safety improvements, including expansion and code upgrades at Fire Station 2 in Rumbling Bald. If approved for a SAFER grant, the town hopes to hire four additional full-time firefighters.

  
  

• Playground Ribbon Cutting: The new playground at Morse Park is now open.

  
  

• Dam Replacement Delayed: The design phase of the replacement dam is now affected by the federal government shutdown, according to the Town Manager. Lake Lure is awaiting funding to move forward with the 30% design phase.

  
  

• Awards and Recognitions: Lake Lure received the Regional Dam Safety Award and the North Carolina Structural Engineers Association Retrofit and Alteration Award for the town’s innovative drain valve project.

  
  

• Sewer Project: Environmental approvals have been secured through NCDEQ, and funding negotiations continue.

  
  

Financial Wins and Future Planning

Commissioner Scott Doster reported strong financial news from the Lake Lure ABC Board, which returned $65,000 in profit distributions to the town — the largest payout in recent memory.

The Planning and Zoning Board continues reviewing updates to the town’s sign ordinances, while the Lake Advisory and Structure Boards are preparing for a wave of boathouse replacements following storm damage. Roughly 30 structures are slated for rebuilding.

Parks and Recreation reported more than 88 volunteer hours last month. The Flowering Bridge organization continues to raise funds toward its recovery.

Short-Term Rentals Under Review

Commissioner Patrick Bryant updated council members on the Short-Term Rental (STR) Board’s progress, noting improvements in consistency and communication with county officials.

“We’re making sure there’s continuity across town limits,” Bryant said, adding that updates to STR applications now require a designated emergency contact — a new compliance measure under North Carolina law.

The board will soon begin a round of property inspections to ensure all rentals remain safe and compliant following last year’s storm.

Council also unanimously approved Pat Buede to replace Marla Machado on the STR Board after Machado missed three meetings.

Council Approves Two Procedural Changes

Two brief items of new business were handled swiftly:

• Encroachment Fee Added: Council approved a $200 fee for encroachment agreement requests to cover administrative costs.

  
  

• Meeting Date Changed: November’s regular council meeting will move from Veterans Day (Nov. 11) to Nov. 4.

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Storm Recovery and FEMA Updates

Lake Lure officials marked one year since the catastrophic storm that devastated the town, with Stewman thanking staff and residents for their persistence through recovery.

“We now have 13 FEMA public assistance projects obligated,” she said, including 11 small projects and two large ones totaling roughly $3.1 million in reimbursements received to date.

One of the largest projects, the Flowering Bridge, remains under assessment. While FEMA initially obligated $2.5 million toward its demolition and seawall work, Stewman clarified that the town does not plan to rebuild the pedestrian bridge. Instead, those funds may be redirected toward critical infrastructure under an “alternate project” request.

Lake Lure officials are continuing discussions with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and state emergency agencies to explore a future multi-modal path system connecting the town center and Chimney Rock Village.

Looking Ahead

Mayor Pritchett praised the dedication of advisory board volunteers and emergency responders, calling the town’s progress “a testament to perseverance.”

“This community has held each other together,” she said. “We’re rebuilding something stronger than before.”

The next Lake Lure Town Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. at Town Hall at The Landings, 920 Buffalo Creek Rd.