Departmental Summaries - June 2025
The following are the Town of Lake Lure Departmental Summaries for the past month.
Public Services Department Report
The Public Services Department continued routine maintenance and operations throughout the month. Regular tasks included meter reading and installations, water leak repairs, utility locates, bulk trash pickup, work order responses, facility upkeep, wastewater sampling, and maintenance at the Dam, Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Hydro Plant. Additionally, staff played a vital role in supporting various storm recovery efforts.
Top Accomplishments & Project Updates
Mainline Sewer Repair: Addressed an ongoing issue with a mainline sewer segment, implementing necessary repairs to improve
service.
Water Tank System Improvements: Successfully completed the replacement of 20 water tank system lid, improving system integrity and
safety.
Road Stabilization Efforts: Repaired four road slopes across Town to enhance stability and prevent erosion-related damage.
Proctor Road Stabilization Project: Continued work on stabilizing Proctor Road. Progress remains steady as staff address long-term
storm damage in this area.
West End Sewer Project: Made significant progress on the West End Sewer Project, which is now on track for completion by
July 23rd.
Staff Certification Achievements: Congratulations to Cody McFalls and Seth Bailey for earning their Wastewater Collections Grade C
Certifications—a notable professional achievement that strengthens our operational capabilities.
Community Development Department Report
Director Williams reports that the department continues to provide permitting services and guidance to residents navigating repairs and rebuilding efforts. A total of 20 permits were issued in June, including:
8 Zoning Permits
6 Lake Structure Permits
5 Land Disturbance Permits
1 Vacation Rental Operator Permit
5 Certificates of Completion were also issued
Top Accomplishments & Project Updates
Ordinance Review & Text Amendments:
The Zoning and Planning Board began reviewing the ordinance that prohibits the outdoor display of merchandise in the Commercial General district, with a recommendation to allow limited display.
Additional approved staff- recommended text amendments included:
o Limiting accessory structure size in Residential 1 districts
o Revising Sections 36-5 and 36-70 to clarify front yard setback measurements (from road
centerline)
o Eliminating outdated references to “markers” in the Lake Structures
Ordinance, aligning language with Marine Commission regulations
Storm Recovery Support:
Continued assisting owners of Hurricane Helene–affected properties with floodplain regulations, permitting, and federal cleanup assistance. Worked with the Army Corps on the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program—40 damaged lake structures have been submitted for inclusion. As of June 28, the Corps announced only boathouses (not docks) with non-solid pilings will be eligible for removal.
Cell Tower Permitting:
Progressed in reviewing permits for a new cell tower to serve Lake Lure. Due to shoreline erosion,
the proposed site has been shifted approximately 90 feet north on the same parcel. Construction is
still anticipated to begin by late July.
Staffing Efforts:
Began interviewing candidates for a new Permit Review Specialist to focus on the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program. One offer was declined due to salary requirements; the recruitment process is ongoing.
Fire / Emergency Management Department Report
The Fire / Emergency Management Department responded to 33 fire, medical, and rescue calls throughout June. Firefighters also completed 1,039 hours of training, reflecting the department's continued commitment to readiness and skill
development.
Top Accomplishments & Project Highlights
Personnel & Training:
o Firefighters continued training in Fire Ground Operations 5.
o New firefighters attended orientation at Cleveland Community College.
o Gabe Karabelski successfully passed the State EMT certification exam.
o Worked on the NCSFA Pension Fund and maintained SCBA equipment.
Incident Response:
o Responded to various incidents including fire alarms, mulch fires, water leaks, a sewage leak at
Station 2 (Rumbling Bald), and multiple medical emergencies (including chest pain and a fall with
head injury).
o Provided traffic control, tree and utility line clearing, and assisted with confined space entry
and lockout responses.
Support & Coordination:
o Assisted Hydro staff with dam operations.
o Relocated the fire boat in response to lake level changes.
o Assisted Law Enforcement and EMS on joint calls.
Facilities & Equipment:
o Conducted cleanup and maintenance at Station 2.
Police Department Report
The Police Department continues to manage routine operations while actively supporting storm
recovery efforts. As traffic increases and heavy machinery moves through town, officers have been
monitoring roadway activity to ensure safety and order. Additionally, the Department will begin
operating out of its new office at 920
Buffalo Creek Road in The Landings, effective July 1.
Top Accomplishments & Project Updates:
Lake Patrol & Public Compliance:
Officers have been actively patrolling the lake bed to enforce the proclamation suspending lake
access. Patrols are being conducted both on foot and via drone. Public cooperation has been
outstanding—citizens have played a key role by reporting violations. The Department credits public
awareness and outreach efforts for the increased understanding of the lake closure's importance.
Home Watch Program:
The longstanding Home Watch Program continues to provide valuable assistance to residents who are
away for extended periods. This trusted service remains a priority and a point of pride for the
Department.
Flag Day Ceremony:
The Town’s Flag Day celebration saw strong attendance. Corporal Tyler Dills was honored to carry
the flag to the Gazebo, marking the official start of the program.
July 4th Event Preparations:
Staff are actively preparing for the upcoming Independence Day celebration hosted by the new owners
of the Lake Lure Inn & Spa. This marks the first major public event since Hurricane Helene. A
combination of reserve and off- duty officers will be deployed throughout the town to assist with
traffic management and ensure public safety during the festivities.
Parks, Recreation & Lake Department Report
The Parks, Recreation, and Lake Department remains focused on restoration and recovery of public
spaces impacted by Hurricane Helene. In addition, the Department is leading regular water sampling
efforts to monitor and protect the environmental health of the lake. Test results are being
published on the Town of Lake Lure website for transparency and public awareness.
Top Accomplishments & Project Updates:
Volunteer Support:
A total of 161 volunteer hours were logged, representing a value of $5,391.89 (at $33.49/hour),
supporting park and lake restoration efforts.
Trail System Recovery:
Landslide assessments at Buffalo Creek Park and Weed Patch Mountain concluded with positive
results. Both areas have been deemed stable, allowing for safe rebuilding of trail connections.
Vessel Reunification & Auction:
Staff successfully reunited 74 non-motorized vessels with their owners following displacement
during the hurricane. Unclaimed vessels will be auctioned through Auctions International beginning
July 1.
Finance Department Report
The Finance Department continues to manage daily financial operations, support ongoing FEMA and ICF
coordination for Hurricane Helene funding, and is actively preparing the Town’s budget for the
upcoming fiscal year.
Top Accomplishments & Project Updates
FY 25–26 Budget Adoption:
The FY 2025–2026 Budget Ordinance was formally adopted. Revenue and expenditure accounts have been
established for the new fiscal year.
Financial Reporting:
A Revenue and Expenditure Report with beginning balances is provided as a supplement to this
monthly update.
Town Financial Position:
The Town currently holds an unreconciled bank balance of approximately
$8.1 million across all funds excluding special revenue (Dam Fund), which
holds a separate balance of $8 million. The Town’s financial position remains
strong and will be further improved by pending State revenue replacement,
FEMA reimbursements, and ARPA reimbursements.
FY 2024 Audit Preparation:
The department remains fully engaged in the FY 2024 financial review. Initial sampling requests
from the audit firm have been completed, with additional samples submitted. The team is working to
finalize the remaining items from the materials list within the next two weeks.
Spending Oversight:
Finance staff are reviewing departmental purchasing requests following Town Manager approval. This
early analysis helps identify spending trends and ensures that department budgets are properly
structured with reasonable and accurate line-item allocations.
Communications Department Report
Communications Director Laura Krejci continues to lead extensive community outreach efforts, which
have significantly increased due to ongoing storm recovery operations. In the past month, she has
published 43 articles and news updates across the Town’s website, Facebook, and via email hyperlink
distribution. Director Krejci
is also actively engaged in grant writing and funding coordination. She is managing
FEMA and other agency-related reimbursement efforts and recently secured reimbursement from NCDEQ
DSO for expenses tied to the ongoing field investigation project. Guidance indicates that future
grant opportunities will become available upon completion of these investigations in the coming
months. In addition, she submitted a grant application to Dogwood Trust to support workforce
housing initiatives. Alongside these efforts, Director Krejci continues to lead the Town’s events
coordination team and ensures residents and stakeholders are kept well- informed of upcoming
programs and updates.
Top Highlights & Project Updates:
National Media Engagement:
Coordinated media coverage with a wide range of outlets, including Fox News, Reuters, and CBS 60
Minutes, arranging interviews with Town officials, key stakeholders, the US Army Corps of
Engineers, and political representatives Paul Scott and Tim Moffitt.
Social Media Management:
Managed a rapidly growing social media presence. The Town’s follower count has exceeded 38,000,
with over 472,000 page views and 8,900 interactions this month alone. Public feedback remains
mostly positive, and all inquiries are monitored and responded to daily.
Storm Recovery Communication:
Maintained transparency with weekly storm recovery updates, posted to both the Town website and
Facebook, reaching a peak audience of 138,000 this month.
Community Engagement & Responsiveness:
Responded to a continuous stream of public inquiries received via the Town’s
online platforms, email, and phone.
Event Coordination:
Coordinated the 2025 Flag Day Ceremony held on June 13, 2025, in partnership with the Police
Department.
Manager / Administration Department Report
June was a dynamic and productive month, marked by a high volume of staff, council, and board
meetings, as well as ongoing efforts to navigate the evolving landscape of post-storm recovery and
day-to-day operations.
Top Highlights & Project Updates
FEMA Coordination & Recovery Funding
Continued weekly coordination meetings with FEMA to advance public assistance projects. Partnered
with disaster recovery firm ICF to secure funding and plan long-term recovery efforts through
Public Assistance, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and the Community Development Block
Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR).
Project Obligations & Reimbursements
Eight FEMA-funded projects have now been obligated. One large project requires a reimbursement
request process, which has already begun. To date, the Town has received $2,303,666.17 for five
projects. Two additional project reimbursements totaling $21,505.75 are pending. Several other
projects are nearing obligation status.
Lago Vista Road Extension
Collaborated with Odom Engineering to solicit and review bids for the extension of Lago Vista Road,
aimed at improving access to Chimney Rock State Park. The Town is currently working with our
lobbyist and state agencies to explore partnership opportunities to support the project.
Chimney Rock State Park Bridge Planning
Attended a meeting with NCDOT and the State Historic Preservation Office to provide input on
aesthetics and emergency access needs for the permanent bridge and turnaround at Chimney Rock State
Park which is in the planning phase. Follow-up discussions are anticipated as this project
progresses.
Employee Benefits Transition
Entered into a one-year agreement with Hilb Group for employee insurance benefits beginning July 1,
2025, following NCLM’s discontinuation of coverage. Human Resources and Finance staff were
instrumental in soliciting and evaluating competitive bids to secure high-quality benefits at a
favorable cost.
Tainter Gate Repairs
Schnabel Engineering conducted an inspection of the tainter gates. Based on their findings, the Town Council approved a work order for the design of
necessary repairs.
Town Hall Relocation & Lease Agreement
Negotiated a month-to-month lease with The Landings to house temporary Town Hall and Police
Department offices. This move addresses operational challenges due to limited space and is expected
to boost morale, improve productivity, and provide dedicated meeting areas for council and boards.
Flowering Bridge Demolition
Expecting advanced funding through NCEM for demolition of the deteriorating Flowering Bridge after
FEMA denied the Town's request for USACE assistance. Bids for the demolition are under review;
however, a demolition schedule has not yet been finalized.
Storm Recovery Coordination
Continued weekly storm recovery briefings with Town Council to maintain momentum and alignment on
key projects.
Sewer Replacement Project
Met with LaBella Engineering to review current task orders and progress on the sewer replacement
project. Upcoming phases for the sewer project are under NC DEQ review. The Town is proactively
preparing for easement needs as designs are finalized.
Comprehensive Plan Kickoff
Held a pre-kickoff meeting for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. An 11- member Steering
Committee—including Town staff, elected officials, business owners, residents, and community
leaders—will begin meeting in July to guide the plan's development.
