To all Lake Lure Voters:
When you cast your ballot for mayor on November 3rd, I strongly encourage you to support the write-in candidacy of Kathy Tanner. I met Kathy shortly after moving full-time to Lake Lure in 2011, and soon realized that we both shared a vision for the future of Lake Lure which embraced and celebrated outdoor recreation.
As a long time member of the Zoning and Planning Board, the Town has officially adopted several of our planning recommendations as policy, including the Rocky Broad River Gateway. As a highly visible component of the 2014 Town Center Small Area Plan, this literal gateway into Lake Lure from Hickory Nut Gorge includes the former Memorial Highway bridge which was just transforming into the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge.
As one of many dedicated bridge volunteers, Kathy Tanner brought to life a new community garden space, free to everyone and open 24/7. Working closely with visionary Bill Miller and other board members, Kathy was the natural choice to succeed him as Board Chair. We worked closely with Kathy and her team to expand into a dilapidated retail site which the Town purchased to create a more positive first impression.
After determining that the building was beyond repair the Town approved its demolition, opening up a new view corridor which framed the beautiful gardens and the lake beyond. The growing popularity of the LLFB gardens created needs for more parking and a gathering space. Working together with her board and Town officials, Kathy spearheaded a development plan to build a new Education Center, with accessible parking and a safe drop off area for tour buses.
Impressively, under Kathy's leadership the LLFB was able to raise ALL of the $225,000 needed to construct this new building, without any public investment. Just as the Education Center was being finished, Hurricane Helene significantly damaged the building and completely destroyed the historic bridge and adjacent gardens. Almost immediately, Kathy and the board created plans to repair and finish the Education Center, replant new gardens and raised over $270,000 in additional funding. Two years after Helene, that work is nearing completion and the gardens are again open to the public.
As our new mayor, Kathy will continue her work to collaboratively engage with our residents and neighbors, whether or not they reside within the town limits of Lake Lure. Beyond her dream to build a new pedestrian bridge across the Rocky Broad River, there are many examples of other 'bridges' that are needed in our community. These include:
Recreational connectivity to Chimney Rock Village via a riverside greenway
Improved public safety through completion of a north side road connection for first responders to Rumbling Bald
Regional sewer treatment facility in cooperation with CRV, Bat Cave and Henderson County
Kathy is well versed in the needs of upgrading our 100 year old infrastructure, and she also appreciates the critical importance of supporting our local businesses that rely upon outdoor recreation and tourism. Her leadership and experience clearly demonstrate that we can leverage collaboration between community residents, visitors and volunteers to improve the quality of life for everyone in Lake Lure.
Please join me in casting your write-in ballot for Kathy Tanner as our next mayor for Lake Lure.
