In an email, flyer and personal calls, the members of the North Knob Creek Community Association (NKCCA) were notified on the first of September that all negotiations with the Seymour Optimist Club, the local Commissioners and the County Mayor had failed.
The notice went on to state the leaders of the group had selected Joe Baker to represent them in the suit.
After months of negotiations with local County Commissioners, County Mayor and the Seymour Optimist Club, the recently formed a non-profit corporation, known as the North Knob Creek Community Association (NKCCA), has retained Sevierville Attorney Joe Baker.
The basis of the suit is to prevent the Optimist Club from developing a sports complex on 14 acres of land in a residential area with several complications.
The property was deeded to the County several months ago for the specific purpose of a community playground.
A lease was arranged with the Seymour Optimist Club for that purpose.
Members of the NKCCA have objected to the proposed expansion by the Seymour Optimist Club immediately upon discovering the proposed action which was a few days prior to the signing of the lease.
In spite of the groups' vocal efforts to prevent the action, the County signed the lease.
In a public meeting held May 2nd at the First Baptist Church in Seymour, nearly 100 local residents attended the first meeting to show their opposition to the proposed ballpark.
Ninth District Commissioners Buster Norton and Judy Godfrey were invited and attended. In their support, Sixth District Commissioner Bill Oakes and Tenth District Commissioner Bryan Delius also attended.
Gary Rader, President of the Seymour Optimist Club also attended.
Commissioners Godfrey and Norton made several statements that the group later found to be completely inaccurate.
The group pleaded with Rader to understand the unsafe complications he was putting the children into, to which he responded, "I don't care, I've got a lease."
At the second public meeting held May 20th there were over 100 residents in attendance. County Commissioners representing the 9th District were invited, as was the Optimist club but this time none were present.
NKCCA contends that if the property is used for the purpose that the Seymour Optimist Club has proposed, there would be several circumstances which would make it unsafe not only for the hundreds of children, parents and siblings who would be there, but for the residence and motorists that travel on the narrow, two lane, hair-pinned, curvy county road adjacent to the property.
The email to the group sent by Patrick Doyle, the President of the association, outlines his several meetings with Mayor Larry Waters and Vice Mayor Curtis Henry, County Commissioner Buster Norton, attorney Dennis Campbell, and attorney Joe Baker on different occasions.
In a call to the Seymour Herald, Doyle outlined his frustrations with the local Commissioners Buster Norton, Judy Godfrey, Bill Oakes, Jim Keener, Harold Pitner and Bryan Delius.
"I am very disappointed in our Commissioners and our County Mayor along with the Optimist Club, as they collectively don't seem to care one way or the other about putting the children, their parent and siblings in harms way," Doyle told the Seymour Herald.
Doyle said that after meeting with the Mayor and the Vice Mayor, the County still refuses to invoke their option of voiding the lease with the Optimist Club even though the club has violated several terms of the lease.
According to Doyle, the park is not available to the public as a community park; plus there is a cable barring the entrance to the park and various TDEC rules have not been complied with.
Doyle wanted to make it clear that the NKCCA has never said that they didn't' want a park. They welcome a park for all children, not just for those with baseball gloves and where they don't show up by the 100's which then becomes a safety issue.
"As far I know, the Commissioners have washed their hands of this, especially if it's not in their district," stated Doyle.
"It's nearly impossible to get them to return a call," Doyle stated. "I never did get a call back from Judy Godfrey or Bryan Delius. And it seems like when you do talk to them, they just want to ‘lull you to sleep' thinking that we will go away in time."
Doyle described in detail how he tried in vein to amicably settle this situation.
"With the Optimist Club putting up a cable barrier with locks to prevent anyone from entering the property, it is in clear violation of the lease," Doyle said. "We've got to stop the commissioners and the county shoving things down our throats that are not only inappropriate, but unsafe. Buster Norton knows how unsafe the road is there, he hauls off a car or two every week from wrecks caused on that road."
The suit is planned to be filed within two weeks, according to Dennis Campbell.
Editors note: for complete details on this continuing story, see the seymourherald.com website
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User Comments
I'm sure Doyle tried in VAIN, "to amicably settle this situation". I doubt he used a "vein".
More importantly, that park is going to happen. It's going to be there. Get used to it, accept and save yourselves time and money.
Sue the bastards and show them that they are "PUBLIC SERVANTS" not Gods or Lords.
I'm sure having tied to deal with those bureaucrats he has a vein popping out the side of his head.
that is it in the best interest of anyone to "get used to it, accept and a save yourselves time and money"... what a cop out! If that were the motto, we'd still be kneeling to the English Crown! The County Commissioners and the Opt. club are wrong. Maybe we need this lawsuit to show that..just like Knox County!
I am so shocked at the fact that we have to actually sue the county commissioners to point out the fact that we don't need or want a ballfield with lights, screaming kids and adults, along with loudspeakers until all hours every weekend, and traffic hazards on North Knob Creek Road every weekend in our community. Please please take it to the real Seymour Community Park off Chapmann highway. There must be a ton of money involved in this arrangement between the Optimist Club and the Commissioners. Please get involved and support this law suit, citizens of N Knob Creek! We can't let this happen to us. Also why is there a chain across the opening to the "Community Park"? Now no one can go for a walk there or take their kids to fly a kite. What a ridiculous nasty situation!
Why not invite the 'Optimist Club' to build one in your back yard along YOUR property line? If you don't invite them to do so...don't bitch at us or about us for not wanting them to invite themselves!
Seymour just totally sucks . All these people with money living here and moving here and they have very very little for the children.
I think it is sooo sad to see this new generation move into Seymour, who know nothing about it's history with sports,and simply judge the people who have been busting their ass for these kids for over 20 years!If it was not for people like Gary Raider and Gene Newman , there are a lot of long time locals who could not remember those great years at Bowers because everyone knows to be a school team in Seymour it is "who" you are, not how talented you are! New people...know the history before you trash it !!!
Looks like the "welcome wagon" just closed up! It's hard to trash something that doesn't exist! History, in Seymour? You've got to be kidding!
Judging by your comment...you are obviosley to seymour sports !! Again do some research before you trash my community !
"They welcome a park for all children, not just for those with baseball gloves and where they don't show up by the 100's which then becomes a safety issue" it is truely amazing that Mr. Doyle has gathered people together to sue the county commissioners and the Optimist Club without getting his facts straight. 1. The new field is just not for those with baseball gloves. Has been noted SEVERAL times in the past--football, soccer, playgrounds, picnic area, and a walking track will also be available. One citizen had requested a dog park...it was suggested that the community talk to the Optimist Club and they would be willing to make arrangements for this but as of date...NOONE has approached the Club about this.
2. The community is concerned about the safety of the land. Do you think that the current cable barring the entrance was placed there for safety purposes until the land can be made into a more safe zone. If left open in the current state, leaves everyone in the position of a law suit if someone goes onto the land and twist an ankle.
3. Traffic. Here we go again....The traffic in the area will continue to get worse with or without the park. Are you going to blame the Optimist Club for that too? The Knob Creek Community continues to add residential lots therefore, adding to the growing traffic problem and this has nothing to do with the park. Talk to the county about the road situation and don't pass the blame onto someone else. You obviously had to drive this road before purchasing your home and knew of the problem then....why make it someone elses issue now.....
It people like you that make ignorant comments like "There must be a ton of money involved in this arrangement between the Optimist Club and the Commissioners" that tend to start arguements without knowing the facts. A commissioner approached the Optimist Club about establishing and maintaining a park at Knob Creek and upon seeing the benefits of supporting the youth of our community they agreed. Its amazing that there are people in the world willing to help others without money being exchanged. Next time refrain from making comments without evidence to back it up!!!!
# 11... 1.You fail to acknowledge that the optimists plan to have a secure gate across the entrance to this so called "park" when completed, therefore, no one will be able to simply use the "dog park", soccer field or playground. 2. There is a viable place for all this right down the street. Why the need for this area? 3. A lawsuit for "twisting an ankle".. sounds like you've probably done that before, huh? 4. Do you live around here and experience this "traffic" that we bought into? I bought my house 5 years ago, when traffic wasn't an issue, and personally, I would like it to remain as safe as possible. I guess you didn't see that black car in the ditch yesterday morning? Luckily, no one was hurt, but soon, someone (probably a child running across the street during a baseball game) will get killed. Guess the increase in traffic was ok, huh?
#12: You mention the main issue most people have regarding this park. A "commissioner approached" the Optimist Club about establishing a park at Knob Creek, in DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE LAW! Sounds pretty much like the Knox County Trial, where the commissioners were found guilty of breaking the Sunset Law and discussing issues outside of the commission chambers? You might want to check on that before helping to nail the coffin shut on the commissioners by making those kinds of statements. At least the recent lawsuit filed against the commissioners will keep this issue tied up in court for quite a while.
Regarding gate......the field will be opened in the mornings and closed at night. This is a security precaution so that theives will not use the fields to get access to homes that are close at hand.
2. Land down the street....what makes you think that these people want a larger park there. Maybe they are just like you and don't want the extra "lights/noise/traffic"..lets just say that they fight an addition too.....then where do the kids go? Let me guess.....anywhere except in your neighborhood!!!!!! 3. Today's society is sue happy. We had a situation at Bowers when a lady want to sue because she twisted her ankle going down a set of stairs. Please people....get a life. I've personally not sued anyone yet....but I'm wandering if Gary has a case for the way his name's been slandered. 4. Again, with or without this park, the traffic will get worse. What are you going to do then...go to court to stop the building of residential communities? Why don't you sue your neighbors to release their land that borders the road to allow for widening.....oh, that's right...their in your "neighborhood community" and you don't want to disrupt that. How about sueing the county because people can't drive...or how about sueing for the lack of rain...... It's sad that such an ordeal has been raised over doing something for kids.
Do you honestly believe that someone from the Optimist club is going to travel to that park and lock it up, then open it again in the mornings... every morning? Wake up fools! This is purely a business venture for the Optimist Club. But, fortunetly, it'll never happen. With the lawsuit that's under way, and the amount of money the Optimist Club would need to raise in order for their Business "fantasy" to get moving.. Hell will freeze first! HA! :-)
The land down the street is already a park. Why not use something that is already there for that specific use? Makes no sense.
Yes, I do believe that someone will open/close the park. I recently met with some of the Optimist members 8 of them.....and they are willing to do anything to help the CHILDREN of this community. Business venture???? Have you seen how much this is going to cost???? These people volunteer their time/money/experiences in sports to help make the next generation even better. Yes, it will take YEARS to raise the amount of money needed, who knows you may be dead and gone by then. Eat a ice cream for me. hehehe
Yes, it is already a small park with limited traffic. However, as already stated, what if the neighborhood there doesn't want the expansion of that park. Some people from there have already commented that they didn't want the extra traffic. Seems everyone wants something but noone wants it in their back yard.
If the next generation is anything like this generation of so called "optimists"... I'll "opt out" thank you!
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