Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis has a longer “to-do” list than most.

The Charlotte native will discuss what’s on the plate for town at the Tryon Historical Museum at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16.

Direction, as well as policy, for Ollis’s duties originate with Tryon’s elected mayor and board of commissioners. Ollis explained that some cities operate under mayor-board management, but most, like Tryon, use an appointed manager to enact day-to-day tasks.

Under Ollis’s guide come the police, fire, public works, sanitation, parks, and water and sewer.

The biggest challenge faced by town hall this summer were the May mudslides.

“Effected areas lay outside our city boundaries, but our emergency personnel was involved in rescue and evacuation efforts,” Ollis said.

Tryon’s water and sewer lines, which run all the way up to Saluda, sustained major damage, also.

With this natural disaster under their belt, Ollis and other city employees are reviewing their response in order to best prepared for such unforeseen events in the future. 

The most immanent challenge to Tryon — as well as the entire area — is preparing for the upcoming World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center Sept. 11-23.

The Main Street paving and sidewalks project is reaching a conclusion, so that’s one big item off Ollis’s.

“Many of the decisions we make now will have impact 10 to 20 years in the future,” Ollis said.

Perhaps chief among these is aging infrastructure—not just a local, but also a nationwide crisis.

“If we could replace old lines, [town] employees could get a good night’s sleep and not get called out the middle of night to deal with broken pipes,” Ollis said.

The public is invited to hear Ollis speak about these and other projects that affect town life at the Tryon Historical Museum, located at 26 Maple St.

This, like other events at the museum, is free and open to the public.

– Submitted by Jackie Burke