Patrick Conant

We’ve got something up our sleeves! 👀 Introducing Sunshine Meetings: the most advanced way to view, interact, and analyze local meetings. We’ve been hard at work making this a reality, and it’s coming soon Check out the coming soon page here: sunshinemeetings.org

Happy Friday y’all! ☀️ Here is this week’s list of “Completed” requests as of now (below): facebook.com/sunshinereques…

@StrawFinal I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Sent you a DM + my email address. Look forward to connecting with y'all.

@patrickconant Hi! We had some questions about the local transparency work you do

High-ranking Asheville officials likely knew as early as last spring about the state’s decision to revive plans for a controversial overpass above Patton Avenue as part of the I-26 Connector project, according to meeting records obtained by @AVLWatchdog. bit.ly/4hV92dj

@Ashevegas Congratulations Jason!

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Ashevegas, which started as a personal blog, morphed into a hyper-local news website, and continues now as an email newsletter (4 years on Substack). I’m still trying to decide how to mark the milestone.

I appreciate Council members sharing info with the public, but we need official updates from the @CityofAsheville. For example: Maggie's "worst-case" scenario is the ACOE's "best-case" scenario. Residents NEED accurate info to plan around, and it needs to go out to everyone

@Ashevegas @BlueRidgePublic just shared an update with some some caution on that timeline: The mid-December timeline set by the Corps is a "best-case scenario," Chandler said. bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-…

@patrickconant There had been mention of the Army Corps of Engineers working to “crack the code” on a temporary plan B approach to the approach that’s been ongoing, but no details. The news is the timeline: by mid-December, potable water will be in Asheville taps.

@maggie4avl recently shared a Facebook reel indicating the City is working with the Army Corp of Engineers on a "Plan B" to build a temporary water filtration system, giving a worst-case timeline of mid-December for potable water service. #avlwater facebook.com/share/r/19QFif…

An #Asheville water update, after @patrickconant pointed me to an update today from City Councilwoman Maggie Ullman. Also, the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association received a similar water update… 🧵 #avlnews

@Ashevegas Has that been mentioned in any of the City's official updates? I'm struggling to parse out what info is "new" versus what is repeated in the various ways information is being delivered. Maggie's video was the first I heard of this "Plan B."

@patrickconant Very interesting. So city officials, or city water officials, gave the green light *last week* to the construction of a temporary filtration system. That temporary system will be able to provide the 20 million gallons (maybe more) that is needed, I’m told.

Appreciate @Ashevegas and others providing this type of "stark bottom line" analysis. I get that @CityofAsheville can't tell us exactly when potable water will be back online, but they know the steps and how long some will take. Giving people necessary info > "covering your ass".

My message to tourists: STAY HOME, SEND MONEY

Oct 7 update on water restoration Workers are making tremendous progress on waterline repairs. The North Fork 36-in water bypass is expected to be reconnected within 72 hrs. Sediment levels must go down before water is drawn. The Mills River Water Plant is fully operational.

@KimRoneyAVL Thank you for these updates Kim. I’m currently supplied and safe in WAVL. Biggest info that would help me is specificity on “weeks” for water restoration. I know hard ask, but trying to decide if I need to relocate and for how long, so knowing if it’s weeks vs months is critical

🧵1/ Wed. Oct 2 #hurticanehelene in #Asheville: I’m working w/ State and City electeds, and I’m in community checking receipts. Today’s updates in this thread…

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our next executive director, Pate McMichael. Please join us in welcoming Pate to the NC freedom of information community. We can’t wait to see the great work he’ll do elon.edu/u/news/2024/09…

@AvlBlade @avlsunshine While that may meet legal requirements, the fact remains that @CityofAsheville appears to be intentionally ommitting info about this meeting from the places residents would expect to find it - the Council Agenda page, the Council meeting materials page, or in media announcements.

@AvlBlade The @avlsunshine team reached out to City Staff regarding posting the special meeting to their website. We heard back from the City Clerk this morning, indicating that the meeting WAS posted to the City website, but only on their event calendar. ashevillenc.gov/events/