The press release we received from Gatlinburg regarding a new 8,000 square foot, state of the art library that is going to be built from mostly local funding, made me wonder.
Do Seymour residents even care what happens here?
Seymour, the last community in the county to get a Boys and Girls Club.
Seymour, the largest community in the county, without any county offices.
Seymour, the community without a home.
Maybe that’s why there is no cohesiveness in Seymour.
No one seems to be able to define what, or where Seymour is.
Where’s the center.
I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly where Seymour starts and ends.
We all know it stretches along Chapman Highway and thru three counties, but where is the Community Hall, or the Local Bell?
All communities have a center. Something to call “home”.
Seymour doesn’t seem to have it. If it does, it’s the biggest secret.
I’ve talked to many that are quit upset over all these people moving in, causing congestion everywhere.
But they won’t lift a finger to effect controlled change.
The local commissioners certainly have not been effective in getting things done around here, other than what they feel like doing without the community’s input or knowledge.
I believe there is leadership out there that can correct the wrongs and get things on track while listening to the will of the people.
Those leaders just have to step forward.
After they step forward, it’s the communities’ responsibility to vote them into office and effect positive and controlled change.
In watching the Presidential Debates, they all talk about change. They say it’s going to take someone from the outside to change the inside.
On a much smaller scale, I believe the same is true here.
You’ve seen what Buster Norton, Judy Godfrey, Bill Oakes, Harold Pitner, Bryan Delius and Jim Keener have accomplished in the last two years. Are you happy with it?
Have you heard or seen them regarding county commission business?
Have any of them come to your neighborhood and informed you of what’s going on with our government?
Seymour needs more. It deserves more.
I’ve asked Joe Keener to print out a list of all business licenses, and the sales tax collected in Seymour and Jettie Clabo to tell me what the total property tax revenue collected from the Seymour area is annually.
That will give us a rough idea as to how much money the Seymour Community Generates and what it’s value is to the county and the politicians.
In the meantime, do you think the people in Gatlinburg, or their leadership, care more about their community than the people, or leadership, in Seymour?
The proof is in the pudding.
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User Comments
First of all you answered your own question. No, most of us obviously don't think we need a community center. We obviously don't think it's a big deal to drive 12 to 15 miles to the court house.
Secondly, this question is repeatedly asked yet never answered by you. How do you think Seymour is going to incorporate and get all the things you know think we need (even though we don't think we need them) without taxes going up? Please, how is it possible to add more government without more taxes?
I don't speak for everyone but I don't think I'm alone in this. One of the reasons we moved here was get away from town, taxes and more local government. I realize the area is growing and we're not in the country so to speak. That being said, those points were important to us so we moved to a place that had what we wanted. If these things are so important to you, why live here? Why not go to a community that has satellite government offices and a community center? There are plenty of communities around Knoxville that will give you that...of course you'll pay higher taxes but you'll have what you want. Is it really that complicated?
I'm glad that we don't have a government in Seymour. I like having to ask permission from some commissioner in Cobbly Nob how best to spend the tax revenue for Seymour. The rest of the people here are too stupid to make an informed decision. Luckily we can depend on the commissioner from Kodak to tell the rest of us what is good for Seymour. Being spread out but densely populated is a definite boon to all of us.
The way I read the editorials is a notice that either the city of Sevierville or the city of Knoxville will annex Seymour which means still no say in how Seymour grows. It seems that the editorial is saying that we need to be in control of our own (Seymour's) future, rather than having far-away interests control us.
I agree with this editorial.
However, it seems that you guys all want to kill the messenger rather than understand what is being said.
The crux of the problem is that native Seymour residents have a sense of entitlement to everything that is Seymour. Because of that sense of entitlement, they fight everything that is outside of the Status Quo. Seymour is a clique, not a city/community. Yes there are leaders in this community. Average citizens in the past year that have risen to the occasion to stand up for what is believed. The Knob Creek community rallied around one individual to fight the ridiculous attempt to force things on their neighborhood. There are individuals out there that have what it takes therefore we owe it to ourselves to ask them to represent our community and then for us to elect them. And for you #2, are you serious? You are part of the problem.
I don't think there are very many people in all of Sevier County that are being well represented by their elected representatives. The county commission and the planning commission are heavily dominated by developers and every appointed position that matters is filled by Larry Waters. It's a rats nest of thieves and developers that is totaly controled by Larry. Look at how the rezoning board repeatedly ignors any community pleas and automatically rezones properties at any developers request. Look at the so called ethics committee - they are batting 0 for 14 for the community. No one, except builders/developers, is being represented well in Sevier County.
The Pixie Drive-In, should be the center...
Oh I loved the Pixie! They had the best grilled cheeses and the best soft ice cream! I have not thought about the Pixie in years. Thanks for bringing back a fond memory!
I have to agree with most of the topics above. When it comes to Elections you are told the Cow jumps over the moon, but we all know better. I have been in alot of subdivisons here in Seymour and I have seen all the New Patch Up Black Top that has been done. It all comes down to left over paving from the County. They need to dump and they go making the areas in Seymour a very big eye sore. Where are the promises made to get a sub-divison repaved, "yeah right". Our local commissioners are in it for the little perks and get fatter everyday. They all need to do what is the right thing for Seymour and Resign. A bunch of nothings doing what the big guys want them to do, sweep the crumbs under the rug and keep them there. Our tax increase was a joke it didn't help our schools or children, all it did was give money to hire a bunch of hatchetts.
To #10
I am not out to make anyone feel or look good. I just speak it as I see it and if you are to blind to look around then that is your problem. How many elected commissioners have made promise's and kept them???
If you sit back and hold your breath then you will not be around to see all the Good will they don't do
Each one of you has the power to vote - use it wisely and vote for change.
Look around Seymour is "small" in a very big way. No one is going to run against these commissioners that is simply not going to happen
Seymour can easily be annex by Knoxville if the few citizens who live along Chapman Hwy vote for it. Several businesses in Seymour want to sell drinks and Knoxville can make it happen.
Knoxville's property taxes are more than double Sevierville's taxes.
If Seymour incorporates, I believe they receive a portion of the county sales taxes. Farragut has no taxes, they operate off their share of the county sales taxes.
Just a little question, How can Knoxville annex into Sevier County? On the same line of thought, How could Sevierville annex Seymour without annexing everything up Chapman Hwy. Doesn't a city have to have one exact border or can a city look like a shotgun blas on a map?
#14
Look at your questions? Where did you go to school?
I think a huge issue is the one most people don't know or don't care about - Seymour is located in THREE counties, not just Sevier County. As a resident of the Blount County portion of Seymour for thirty years, I don't see how all three counties could be incorporated into one government entity without disenfranchising some. We may not be very vocal, but we're a large group who have just as much interest in Seymour as anyone else, but are never acknowledged as part of the community by most people. When I think about Sevier County politicians taking over Seymour, I shudder and contemplate moving farther out.
#14 TCA codes state a city can request to annex any unincorrperated county property, but it is possible for a group of citizens to stop annexation. History shows city annexations usually follow water and sewer lines, the City of Sevierville has already put those down Boyd's Creek Hwy and it has been rumored that they will follow that path and annex in the next 10 years. They have already inched down Boyd's Creek over the past several years, and my guess is that they will get to the Boyd's Creek @ Chapman Hwy intersection and annex north to the county line and south till around Tittsworth Springs. The city services like law enforcement, water, sewer, and trash pick up will come along with it, as well as city taxes. They will probably contract the SVFD for fire protection like they do Northview/Kodak VFD until they can build fire stations down this way. Thats the price of progress I suppose but I don't like it.
to #14 look at blount county. the airport
Looks like there's another bunch of white cracker hillbillies in Seymour with their heads in the sand. Seymour DOES have government...headed by Buster Norton and Judy Godfry. You know - the two who push their own special interests upon everybody without thinking about the effect on the whole community. It's high time you locals get your head out of your backsides so you can smell those two (and Larry Waters) for the rats they are!
#19
Amen
The best thing for Seymour is to fix Bloody Chatman Rd...don't let Blaclocks do the work it would take them 50 yrs.
#15... #14 Is probably a SHS graduate.
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