Town Council Regular Meeting

The Town of Fletcher Town Council held its Regular Meeting on September 14, 2026, focusing on administrative approvals, board appointments, and community updates. The Council formally approved the minutes from previous meetings and passed a consent agenda that included tax refunds and a grant of $8,376.75 for the Stormwater Off-Right-Of-Way Assistance Program. Additionally, the Council approved a proclamation for the Fall Litter Sweep.

Regarding personnel, the Council moved to appoint Ms. Rachel Nord as Chairman of an existing board and appointed Mr. Brian Scoggin to fill a vacated position on that same board. Both motions were seconded and passed by the Council. These appointments were made following a discussion on board vacancies, with the Council selecting from a list of candidates including Laura Acasha-Nichols, Mike Franklin, and Mr. Scoggin.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments regarding pedestrian safety on Fanning Bridge Road. Residents, including Amber Fossum, Claire Fossum, Rachel Stay, Robin Burberry, Oliver Burberry, and Hazel Robert, requested the installation of two crosswalks with flashing beacons at specific intersections: Fanning Bridge Road at Red Spruce Way, and Rutledge Road at Tulip Tree Court. The commenters argued these measures would improve safety for children, reduce teen anxiety, and connect the neighborhood to downtown businesses. Amber Fossum stated, "We love the more community park... but I'm here tonight because our family has felt a little trapped in our neighborhood... I'm asking for two crosswalks with flashing beacons... so they worked out a route where they collect each other and we'd like to feel that they can do it safely."

In response to the safety concerns, an unnamed Council Member encouraged residents to comment on the French Broad River MPO survey, noting that "Fanning Bridge was probably the most commented project in Fletcher." The Town Manager’s representative provided an administrative update, stating that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) Express Review for Highway 25 and Fanning Bridge Road has been rescheduled to January. The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is starting the review this month.

The meeting also featured an update from Joshua Davis, Portfolio Director for Retail Strategies, who provided a two-and-a-half-year overview of the town’s retail recruitment partnership. Davis discussed progress on the Town Center project, noting challenges related to site size and pricing. He stated, "One of the challenges that we see... is the site being kind of the core of the city, it's at a lighting intersection, the size of the site... a lot of the feedback that we do get from guys who are interested in doing deals in this area is, hey, can we get pricing guidance on just two and a half acres?" Davis confirmed his team is sourcing developers for the site and offered to continue exploring redevelopment opportunities.

Debbie Robbins, Ovarian Cancer Survivor and NOCC Vice Chair, accepted the Town’s proclamation of September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. She shared her personal story of surviving ovarian and endometrial cancer diagnosed in 2007. Robbins urged attendees to discuss symptoms, stating, "Ovarian cancer is sometimes called the silent disease, but I don't believe it should be silent... There is no early detection test for women at average risk. Pap smears do not detect ovarian cancer. This is what makes awareness so important."

No specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by staff or Council members during this meeting beyond the general encouragement for residents to engage with the MPO survey. The Council did not vote on the installation of crosswalks or make any binding decisions regarding the specific requests made by the public commenters.