Sevierville Planning Commission incites emotion from area residents

Voices quavered and hands shook as several Sevier County citizens told the Sevierville Planning Commission Thursday evening that they did not want their homes annexed into the Sevierville city limits. Geraldine Smelcer, the spokesperson for two Smelcer families, politely, but resolutely, asked that their homes be left out of the annexation. Marc Robertson spoke the commission saying, “We don’t want our homes annexed by the city, we have three buildings on that land, and quite frankly we just as soon that you didn’t get the tax dollars on them.” His father spoke out and said, “I’d just as soon not be in the city, I’ve had nothing but bad experience with them. They worked on the area by my land and tore down a retaining wall, saying they would replace it. I am still waiting for my retaining wall to be built. When I went to talk to them about it, they almost told me to hush my mouth.” Max Henderson from the Robertson Acres Subdivision also said that 85 per cent of those home owners wanted left out of the city. Vice-Mayor Jerry Loveday’s response was, “We don’t mind taking out those people who don’t want to be in the city out of the annexation.” Jim Bryant, Director of Planning and Development added, “There are flood plain considerations that we need to take into consideration, but it can be done.” Most of the items brought before the commission were approved. We will have a more detailed report in Monday’s paper.