Well the Nimby’s (Not In My Backyard) are continuing to keep Knox County down. While Sevier County wins again. A handful of vocal nimby’s that have NEVER supported anything but trying to protect their own self interest and telling the IDB (Industrial Development Board) what they can not do with the property the IDB bought off Midway Road in East Knox County. Read about KaTom’s decision to locate in adjoining Sevier County,here.
After seeing the reaction from the Nimby’s they were probably scared about the reaction during construction and eventual operation of their business. Good luck to KaTom on their new location where they are welcomed with open arms.
The thing is, the NIMBY leaders are not even from the area – one is from Ritta, the other lives in Alice Bell. They did such a great job running Hackney out of Knox County. Very sad that the good people of Carter, Thorn Grove, and Tuckahoe are letting a vocal minority speak for them.
Maybe we could just give Carter to Sevier County anyway, they seem to be more Wautaugan than Cosmopolitan anyway.
KaTom was looking for a handout and we're completely out of cash to give away. Sevier County is flush with cash and under they keep a significantly higher percentage of their sales tax in county than Knox County such that they, like Blount, Roane, and Loudon County, can offer businesses, industry, and workers more opportunities day in and day out than Knox County.
I agree with you Brian. You can't greet 110 jobs with the threat of a lawsuit in front of county commission.
I wouldn't move my business into a backwoods reception like that.
The good news is, we've got 6.1% unemployment in Knox County and still a blank slate at Midway if we can ever convince the NIMBY's it's time to reach our potential as a county.
Funny someone should mention giving Carter away…
http://www.examiner.com/government-in-knoxville/woodshed-tribune-community-files-for-free-agency
It ain't McNutt, but then again I always thought Snark Bites was a bit soft.
KaTom made the decision to forget MidWay and Knox County the day of John Valliant, the Development Corp attorney, was abandoned like the “lone ranger” at the hearing for Midway last week….NO support from the Knox Chamber,County Commission ,or Mayor….the NIMBYs win again…just like the Hackney loss 10 years ago. Bob Wolfenbarger said it (KaTom) would not bring new jobs only current employees driving to Knox County…that statement shows his lack of insight. Take H T Hackney now…a decade after the decision to leave Knox (actually ran out of town)…many people who were current Hackney employees at the time of the relocation drove to the new facility in Roane County….now most of the new hires come from Roane County. Also look at the loss of property taxes…If the H T Hackney facility had been built on Washington Pike as Sansom proposed the property taxes over the past 10 years would have cover 50% of the cost of the new Carter School (I did the math)….the NIMBYs want new schools but do not want new jobs and plant construction. So now we have MidWay….wasting away…but remember the taxpayers have $14 million invested in the property..now OFF the tax role…and we have a new Carter School with ground broken but not enough funds in the County General Funds to construct it (Remember that Carter is is NOT part of the Schools Capital Budget)…and I do not think the “garage sale” of the Women's Basketball Fame of Fame will cover it (keep in mind the Sports Corp was going to use our tax dollars to buy it anyway)—-What Come Next? The School Budget increase request approved 8-1 by the School Board calls for $35 million new dollars but $28 million of that is for capital…So how does the Mayor and County Commission tell the School parents in the County that they cannot have new capital projects and facility improvements when Carter is getting a new school and its residents are running off new property tax base opportunities like KaTom. Much to come!!!