The first item of interest was the Hardin Valley High School after much discussion. The Commission did the right thing with the proposal of Commissioner John Griess in requesting that the schools come up with a priority list for future projects.
Commissioner John Mills in typical protect my district attitude is concerned with a proposed replacement of Carter Elementary. Some one needs to remind Mills, his district is receiving a replaced Gibbs and he has the fewest number of students of any district in the county. After the cconstruction of the Midway Indusstrial Park that will create 4,600 new jobs, Carter may grow. But, not until there is a magnet to draw families to the area.
The second item of interest was the Midway Industrial Park. I received the call about 7:15 pm from the cell phone of my source at the meeting . The source said 16-3. I said Thank You. This is great news with 4,600 new jobs and nearly $12.million dollars in property tax revenue. The community is expected to make attempts to stop it through legal action. It would be better to work with teh Development Corporation to ensure a quality neighbor than waste time, resources and sweat equity fighthing the project.
The community made a critical mistake in wearing T-Shirts that alleged that this was a fat cats project. The community is essence was calling the Commissioners Fat Cats. It doesn’t help your cause to go to the people that your asking for their help to resort to calling names.
The final item of interest is the $9.0 million in TIF. Brian’s Blog in go indepth with the issue of TIF and the use of TIF’s in future post. This is a Great decision and a neccesary one. The ROI (Return on Investment) for this development will produce sales tax and property tax revenue to the schools and community that will produce great benefits. The use of TIF’s in the South Knox County area has produced great rewards. Anyone that is opposed to the use of TIF’s is not knowledgeable of the benefits and return on the use of TIF’s.
Mr. Hornback,
What happens if the Midway Industrial Park turns into another boondogle/white elephant? “If you build it, they will come” works in Kevin Kostner films (well, at least one anyway) I am not convienced this project will work. I could be, but at the moment I’m not. The “Fat Cat” t-shirts were directed more toward the developers involved in this and less so toward the commission who most view as mearly “rubber stamps” rather than fully vested accomplices. Nevertheless, when any group of citizns displays this degree of unity community leaders should sit up and take notice rather than belittle them.
On a slightly different tack, how do you think the new commission (post Sep 1) will view all this?
SteveMule
I haven’t thought much about it as the new commissioners are not commissioners until 9/1/2006. This issue has been decided and is irrelevant to the incoming commissioners.
Brian;
Not really…any future county money needed to go into this will be up to the new commissioners, and I guarantee this is not going to be the last we hear of this, I am sure it will now find its way to the courts.
Mr. Hornback,
I apologize for being, apparently, vauge. I was speaking in the sense of: How will the new commission view this decision and the project itself as it moves along in the future?
Dave:
I understand this is not the last we have heard of it. According to the Brian’s Blog sources that attended the commission meeting. The Thorngrove community members that were in opposition were not the speakers, it was a gentleman from Farragut that continued to self promote himself and his websites.
The bottom line is. we must get beyond the NIMBY attitude (Not In My Back Yard) and prepare for job recruitment and retention for the 21st century.
I would like the next generation of Bill Gates and Warren Buffetts to be here in Knox County.