Citizens of 16 Counties in TN, GA, and AL are being
left out of a 40-year growth development plan orchestrated by South East
Tennessee Development District.
Did you know that we have been “regionalized?”
Did you know that South Eastern Development District is
working to complete a 40-year development plan for 16 counties spanning 3
states without proper notification to the public or the local elected
officials?Well if you were not
aware don’t feel alone. No one else was told either.And this is by design.
Did you know that Chattanooga filed for a 2.5 million
dollar grant from HUD under the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant
program?This is our money!At a time when people don’t have jobs
and our economy on the verge of collapse we are applying for part of a $100
million dollar pile of taxpayer money, set aside by the Obama administration,
for these wasteful projects.
Did you know that Governor Scott of Florida just
repealed a 30 year development plan for the state because it is a proven job
killer.While we are being told it
will create jobs other states are experiencing just the opposite affect.
This plan will affect the lives of 979,570 taxpayers in
16 counties spanning 3 states.They will control the future of 6,347 sq. mile of land and property.
On October 14, 2011 there was an article in the
Chattanoogan on-line news advising the citizens of 16 counties (9 in TN, 5 in
GA, 2 in AL) about a meeting in Chattanooga on November 17, 2011 (Chattanoogan
Hotel, 1201 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN) starting at 5:30pm to introduce the 3
groups that are the finalists for the contract to work with SETDD to create and
implement a plan that will affect property rights, zoning, resources and just
about every aspect of our lives.Did you see anything about this meeting in the Polk County paper?
Did you know there was a meeting held on Friday,
October 28, 2011 in Ringgold, GA at 10am (while most citizens were in work or
getting the family out the door to school) to advise the almost 1 million
citizens of this plan?No?Well neither did most of the other
affected citizens. I found out about this meeting just days prior to its
scheduled date.I rounded up about
11 friends in TN and GA and we attended the meeting.It appeared as if there were about 150 people in
attendance.Of those people in attendance
it appeared that maybe 20 everyday citizens were in attendance (remember 11 of
them were with me).Most of the
room was filled with stakeholders.People that work for companies/foundations that are in full support of
this plan and in my opinion have reason to gain handsomely in one way or
another by promoting this project.Some of these people did not even live in the 16 counties but were
allowed to provide input on the wants, needs and desires of the citizens living
in the region?There was no verification
of where you live prior to attending this meeting.Seats were assigned. We were not allowed to ask questions
until the meeting was over and in the middle of lunch.They expected us to provide feedback
before we had a chance to find out the details. There were 3 people that asked
questions and I personally asked about 6 questions because no one else was
raising their hand.A massive
undertaking and 3 people asked questions???Something smells bad about this deal. I wanted to know why
my Commissioner’s had no idea about this regional plan.We have unelected people planning our
future and the people we elected to represent us have no idea what is going
on.I also asked if there were to
be 1 plan or 16.It was strongly
recommended that we have 1 plan.I
was also told there is a meeting on Tuesday in which all local officials were
invited.Well not my
Commissioners.Gee could these
people be less than honest??
Now if this does not concern you it should.Understand the ultimate goal of “regionalization”
is to eventually eliminate local government or render it powerless.
When the smoke clears and the dust settles there is an
agenda being pushed in America that has nothing to do with the environment or
in making life better for Americans and everything to do with pushing a
political agenda of total control over every aspect of human existence.
Remember, the 9 most frightening words in the English
language are:I’m from the
government and I’m here to help.
GET TO THE MEETING on November 17. DO NOT ANSWER ANY SURVEYS (face-to-face
or mailed).Do not fill out
anything.The outcome is already
predetermined (Delphi Technique) no matter how you answer the questions.It is all meant to make you
“think” you had input.But they
are required to get surveys and feedback forms filled out.If they can’t complete that
requirement we have put a crimp in their game.
Polk County Planners approved multiple plats during the April meeting and discussed permitting staff approval on plats that meet all necessary qualifications.
A handicapped-complaint building for concessions and restrooms will be built at the Benton ball fields following action by the county commission April 19.
The governor’s recently released three-year transportation program does not include any Polk County projects, although current projects are continuing.
Questions have been raised about the cost of a precinct rental and the decision to put the sample ballot in the Fannin County, GA newspaper rather than the Polk County newspaper.
Diane Wilson said she was more upset by the response of Election Administrator Steve Gaddis when she reported the incident than she was by the incident itself.
A Special Master’s Hearing was held last Wednesday to take an accounting of the Home Owners Association for Ocoee Mountain Club in preparation for an upcoming trial.
Paul Hunter has asked the U.S. District Court to award him at least $169,920 in “front pay” following last month’s verdict that his firing from Copperhill was due to age discrimination.
If 20 or 30 people had turned up for opening night, we would have breathed a big sigh of relief and considered the evening a success.
The final head count was 82 people, from three states
Talley recommended to the congressional delegation new statewide incentives for solar energy development, cellulosic ethanol production, biomass gasification and waste to energy.
Photo from 1910 provided by Bill Lillard shows the family of Calvin Higdon, who built the Higdon Hotel in Reliance. Calvin (1836-1919) and Amanda Linderman Higdon (1845-1926) were married in 1860.
From Polk County News, 9/13/34
Famous Monroe County Hotel Is Now No More
People from All Over South Visited the “Saratoga of the South” in the Good Old Days.
Walking the Line, a series of drawings inspired by 16 years of attendance at the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Friday Night Concert series, is now on display at the Folk School’s History Center.
On May 19th at 5pm there will be a Walk-A-Thon to raise awareness for Domestic Violence. The event will be held at the Park by the Greenway on Raider Drive in Cleveland.
The Overhill Shutterbugs, a regional photography club, present their 2nd Annual Photography Exhibit through June 1, 2012 at the Etowah Arts Commission,
“The Journey of the Lost Boys of Sudan” will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on CSCC’s campus.
Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State Community College will be co-hosting information sessions about the Veterinary Technology Program at Chattanooga State.
Miss Misty Brooke Hill and Mr. Mason Ray Cross, both of Cleveland, exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, January 14th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witnesses in Cleveland.
The Copper Basin Medical Center’s District Board honored Dr. William E. Lee last week. Dr. Lee, 85, has spent a lifetime in service, not only to the community but to the world through his medical mission trips.
Scott Jones and daughter Abby recently enjoyed a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, starting at the Hwy. 68 and making their way down to the lower section
Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
Fall trips on the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure are quickly selling out. On Oct. 22, the train traveling along the Old Line took 210 passengers to Copperhill for a two-hour layover. (Photo by Robert J. Duncan Sr.)
Drawdown is underway at Apalachia Lake, according to David Bowling with River Operations at TVA. He said the lake will drop 18-20 feet for routine maintenance work.
Trout stocking will be reduced about 20% in the coming fiscal year and could be reduced 85% after that, according to Frank Fiss, Assistant Chief of Fisheries at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
TVA has created a smartphone app for those wanting to check on reservoir elevations, water release schedules and more. The information has been available online, but the new app will allow access by cell phone.
Unseasonably high temperatures -- in the 90s -- are sending folks to the water. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a popular place when the river isn't flowing, and the Hiwassee and Ocoee are popular when it is.
VEC was recently notified by a neighboring utility that they have been receiving complaints from customers who have been visited by scam artists posing as energy evaluators.
The Tennessee Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its Certificate of Merit Awards to honor individuals or groups that have worked to preserve Tennessee’s cultural heritage during 2011.
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs division is urging consumers to be wary of emails that request participation in a survey and that promise a gift card in return.
While many job placement firms may be legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings and charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
The annual campaign has enrolled tens of thousands of children in the low-cost health insurance plan, which provides coverage for everything from physician visits to hospitalization to dental and vision care.
“Kids Fishing Day” event in Cherokee National Forest’s Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at McCamy Lake. Anglers 15 years and under are invited to try their luck.
Ducktown resident Jack Suites and his partner Bitt Ledford of Murphy, N.C. took home the $700 second place prize at the Tri-County Community College Foundation Fishing for Scholarships Bass tournament on April 2.
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