For example, 2008. I’m not sure how long it’s going to take me to remember to write 2008 instead of 2007 on documents.
Last year at times I was still writing 2006 when it was already several months into 2007.
Why?
From what I have read, we are creatures of habit. When we do repetitive things, mechanical or thought, we set up a pattern or habit.
Studies have shown it takes 22 repetitions for something to become a habit. However, if you sleep between those repetitions, the numbers increase.
What’s my point in all of this?
I want to remind myself that anything that I want to change or make into a pattern or habit, I’ll need to do it at least 22 times to take effect.
That number is an average. It could be more for some and less for others.
The point is, it’s going to take effort.
The question is, am I willing to put forth the effort to make the new start or to make the change.
Will the effort be worth it?
Something that makes a lot of sense to me is the Seymour Community putting effort into becoming a city. The City of Knoxville is just three miles away. Do you think they won’t jump county lines to gain the huge tax base Seymour would provide them?
There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t get a call or a visitor at my office that asks how many people live in Seymour.
When I tell them the US Post Office has over 8,000 addresses they deliver to. If you take an average of 3.5 people per address that would total about 28,000 people that call Seymour they’re home.
Their next question in amazement is, “Where’s the downtown”.
My response is, there is no downtown. We have no local government. We don’t even have a county office to serve all those people. We have to drive 16 to 25 miles to pay our taxes, buy takes or get licenses.
Then they ask, “I thought that government was created to protect and serve the people”.
Only if the people demand it, I responded.
Seymour isn’t going to become a city unless a few people get together and make it happen.
From the talk and actions of the NKCC I originally thought they had the leadership to make it happen. It appears that their lives are too busy to deal with the effort it takes to make the changes.
I don’t blame them.
Still, I’m hoping that a group will step forward and share the effort to make Seymour a City and start providing the services to the community that it deserves.
Don’t let the people who cry that your taxes are going to go up so much that you’ll be sorry, lull you into believing it. It’s not true.
Look at the figures. I did. We, as a City would be far better off with local government and representation rather than having four ineffective commissioners out of 25.
We can’t even get a park established without the permission of commissioners that live in Pittman Center or Gatlinburg. Does that make sense?
I believe the effort would be worth the gain to become the masters of our own destiny.
This is a new year and we could have a new start.
If there is any group out there interested in putting forth the effort to become a City, give me a call. I’ll help in any way I can.
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User Comments
if it is that bad why you live hear we don't need you
It seems that mmmm can't read very well. I don't remember reading anywhere it article that anything was bad. The only thing bad is mmmm's attitude.
I posted a legitimate concern about this yet it was taken down. I think my question deserves and answer if you're advocating the position taken in this op-ed piece. I'll ask again. You wrote, "Don’t let the people who cry that your taxes are going to go up so much that you’ll be sorry, lull you into believing it. It’s not true." My question is how can you say that's not true? How can another layer of government be added without taxes going up? If you're going to make Seymour a town with it's own government, where will that government get money to run on; donations?! Of course taxes would go up.
NOT!! Look people, there are pros and cons for both sides of the arguement as to whether or not Seymour should incorporate. But this is not the forum to discuss it, because if Joe does not like what you have to say he will delete it. He seems to try to stir up trouble by printing article like this, or ones against the school system, county commissioners, etc...but he deletes opinions stated that he does not like.
AMEN!!!
Is this any different than what Stan Voit does at the Mountain Press? You don't even get the opportunity to post anything against the official county line at the MP. There is a huge picture of King Larry in the lobby of the Mountain Press. So much for a free press. At least the SH allows you to post alternative view points. The Mountain Press has consistently been mysteriously silent on anything that is critical of any local official. After all, Ad revenue is at stake and the local press can only afford to be so "free." I appreciate being able to voice my opinion at the SH.
Sevierville City Limits has expanded at the expense of everyone surrounding it's area. Look at Hwy 66. All of the revenue from that industry has been usurped by the city. County revenue streams are down because once annexed, they fall under city taxation. None of that revenue goes to the schools, county waste, county services. As a matter of fact, it doesn't benefit the city residency either because that particular zone has been given a special tax exclusion. How much growth do you think will happen on Chapman Hwy before the "City" begins expanding to Seymour. When that happens, the citizenry of Seymour will be bent over just like Kodak. You see patrol car after patrol car cruising up and down 66 (harassing the local citizenry but not offending the tourists), but wait, that's a city patrol car. If someone in Kodak needs a police officer and they live in "the county," there may be a city cop at the Krystal's restaurant just 2 minutes away, but they have to wait on one of the 4 county patrol cars that may have to come from Wears Valley, Cobbly Nob, Dupont, or Old Newport Hwy.
28,000 people in Seymour... hmmmm. Sevierville was MUCH smaller when it originally incorporated.
The regional planning commission plans very well how to get your tax monies but can't ever seem to get us any services for our tax dollars.
To #5
I agree The Seymour Herald will not print anything that looks bad on their paper. So no Comment except.
We lived alot of years with the Tri County News and have done just fine. We do not need any Castaways trying to incorporate Seymour. Lets see how long this will stay alive until it gets deleted
So, now we are "castaways" and not just foriegners? What a backward way of thinking.
backward i think not you outsiders come in and want to change the way we do things and frankly the locals are not going to have any of it
The locals are stuck in some fantasy land of 25 years ago when it was a rural county. It is fast becoming urbanized and it is doing so without any of the rules and regulations that other developed counties have to have in place to address this type of uncontrolled development. Having a county mayor that is also thinking the same as 25 years ago does not help the situation either. FYI, The developers invited all these "foriegners" to come here and retire in the Smokies - they just didn't tell us that we would have to give up our freedom of speech and the right to vote in order to get along with the locals. It is obvious that you were educated localy and never left. Sevier County is as corrupt as they come and people are tired of it, even if you don't know any difference.
#11
I see it as it is, no one is be damning only the ones with the in securties. I have a very good friend who gave 19 years driving a School Bus for Sevier County School System. And it took one person whom was hired this school term take it away 19yrs gone. Yes Sevier County is full of cruptions or else my friend would still have her job. Now what do you all have to complain about having a recycle center. You need to worry about who is driving your children home safely. You cannot tell me a bus driver with 19yrs experience all with the Sevier County Schools, no write ups,no accidents deserves to be pushed out. And they bring in a driver that has no experience driving and replace her. Could it be a Political move, a favor to a friend or a family member. This community needs to pull together and take a look around and take all in consideration when it comes time to Vote.
If the citizens of Seymour would have wanted to be incorporated into a city, than it would have already happened. Now as it sets, Seymour is exactly where we want it to be. There is a small group who want to do this, but the large majority is happy with Seymour the way it is. We don't need outsiders coming in (I'll not mention any names) and trying to change our town to fit their style.
Outsiders: Leave us alone.
"Large majority" you have to be kidding. There is no majority in Seymour - that's the problem - the people are all segmented - Think about it.
This came up several years ago. Seymour will never incorporate, and it's a little silly that someone would push this issue. Do you really want to take on a huge tax increase to only get a couple extra cops and trash pickup? As a graduate in Public Administration and Finance, I can tell you that the idea of incorporation for this community is not at all fiscally justified. Implants to Seymour from large metro areas have grown so used to bigger government taking control of everything- justifying it by claiming "we need more/better representation"- is silly. If you want better representation, and think you can do a better job, you can run for office just like anybody else. But, as I recall, a certain advocate in this thread {name redacted} did in fact run for office- with little success. Sour grapes, perhaps?
It seems you missed some of the article. Didn't the article say that either the City of Knoxville or Sevierville will gobble up Seymour in the future? Wouldn't it be better to have local control rather than not? It seems that the real problem is that only locals get out and vote. Could that be the only reason new blood has not been elected. Plus, it seems like everyone wants to point a finger at a certain advocate in this thread just because he sees the injustice and wants to help - have you ever thought of that. Look at the corruption in Knox County. You claim to work in government, you know it exists. Don't you think Sevier County needs to have some serious bright sunshine let in? All you think about is money. Think about the quality of life. Think about the uncontrolled growth here. So much to do, so few people to step up to do it because it takes guts to stand up to the foul rhetoric. So Mr. Lifelong, you need to get ALONG.
It comes down to...if you are happy with the way you and your wishes are being represented then vote to re-elect your reps. If you are not happy with the representation, Vote them out. I personally think they have done a horrendous job of representing me and my wishes. I will not vote for any incumbent(s) for any positions in the next election. Surely we can do better than this group of thugs and dimwits.
#19
You must be one the little clicks, but I beg to differ I will not VOTE for anyone
in our District as they just sit back and draw money for doing nothing. I am sick and tired of all the BS in Politics, and no I have no desire to run so I will answer that for you NOW. I do not and will not be a hatchet, or one of the good ole boys. Politics stinks and so does the people who brown nose to get in the click to do all the dirty work for "Certain People" sit back and live the life of "High and Mighty" when they know who they are. Then come Sunday morning they are the first to get to Church thinking that paying their dues makes them a good person. As I see it I feel sorry for all the ones that live that kind of life. When I go to bed at night I rest in peace I may not have $$$
But I assure you I do have a clean consicious.
GET OUT AND VOTE
Seymour isn't a state?
You know, you "locals" are right. We don't need "outsiders" coming in here and trying to change our way of life. So, if you locals really feel that way, it's time for all you white people to go back to where you came from and leave this area to us.
Just because a newspaper article claims that a neighbor city will annex Seymour, does that make it true? It is no wonder that locals disregard the attempts of those who try to pursuade Seymour to consider incorporating, given the hateful and nasty rhetoric and attacks that are used. "You can attrack more bees with flowers." As mentioned, Seymour has, in the past, experienced a very organized and determined group of residents that took all the necessary steps to put incorporation on the ballot. Does anyone out there remember all the meetings and town hall discussions that were organized? Can anyone explain what happened in the end? I don't think anyone in Seymour really resents people from moving into the area until they start with all the negative attacks, whining and complaining. If Seymour has no majority as previously suggested, I will argue that that is good. Conventional wisdom reeks. I value lots of different ideas and view points regardless of where someone is from originally. I hope everyone can look at Adam Littlehawk's comments and realize that selfishness is driving much of the childish bickering that goes on within the blogs of this website. No-one has a claim on Seymour. Many of you post your distrust and dissatisfaction of local governement and in the next breath, advocate for the development of a more and bigger government. One of th primary problems with the group who tried to incorporate Seymour in the 90's, in my opinion, was the ongoing contradictions of the leaders of the movement. It seems every point that people try to make on this subject is contradicted by the reasoning used to support it. Am I the only one that sees this. I doubt it. This is an important debate and I think it should be kept alive but my comments will probably be deleted since I don't support the views of the Seymour Herald.
I agree with #23 Question. Now if the citizens of Seymour don't incorporate, I hope Knoxville annexes Chapman Hwy in Seymour so we can have a glass of wine while dinning out.
a glass of wine yummy. I am wanting to open a beer store. you go Knoxville come and get us.
That's a attitude that causes division, exclusionism and exclusivism. Seems to me that if we alllive in Seymour, we're ALL neighbors. Some neighbors are more interested in protecting the community from unwanted and unneeded County interference in local matters - along with the unmittigated and uncontrolled growth we're expeiencing in Seymour. You want to protect OUR community and OUR way oflife? Be a neighbor and forget about the 'locals' v. 'outsiders' argument...it's childish at best and totally repugnant to educated people.
That is what must be weighed in this little debate.
What are the pros and cons of incorperation? For one we could institute a codes enforcment office. That way you would have a legal recourse against a neighbor that fills their yard with junk therefore bringing down the enitire neighborhoods property value. Secondly, there could be more local control of development and zoning issues. For instance, I remember that quite a few people were upset about the height of the McDonald's sign on Chapman Hwy. If we were in control of the codes in our own town we could of instituted standards for highway signage.
What are some of the con's? Well, there is the ever present specter of higher taxes. As so many have said before me how do you fund local government without a tax base. Then if you believe that Sevier County government is so full of corrupt people why would those seeking power in a Seymour township be any different?
A person needs to look at issues like these and check their own values and beliefs and make a decision. The debate shouldn't be about xenophobia or annexation scare tactics.
Signed,
Local Prodigal Son
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