Is it any wonder that citizens in Sevier County don't trust our elected officials when they claim to care about the beauty of the mountains?
At the first public meeting hosted by a NY firm who was the only bidder (only after they were urged to bid) on a $60,000 mountain and hillside study, only two elected officials cared enough to hear what their citizens had to say. Of all of the elected officials in this county and all of the municipalities, only two County Commissioners showed up.
Ben Clabo and Phil King had the gumption to listen to their Sevier County neighbors. All other elected officials were _______ ( you fill in the blank - AWOL, negligent, arrogant, etc.)
No wonder people are losing faith in the local leaders. They don't even care enough to attend a meeting. The purpose of which is to build consensus and seek fair solutions to minimize the destruction of the natural beauty of our number one tourist attraction: the mountains.
Mayor Waters stated that he would make mountaintop protection a priority (in a meeting with Jim Wilson, John Edwards, John Meyers and Curtis Henry). "No Show" Waters doesn't even attend the public meeting kickoff. Wouldn't it have been polite of our county mayor to introduce the Saratoga Group in a study that might shape Sevier County forever?
Mayor Waters has not taken a stand or commented publicly on his planning Commissions actions regarding the Cove Mountain (High Bridge) project. His county planner recommended approval and then changed his mind when presented with virtually the same documentation at the following month's meeting. Six Planning Commissioners voted to ignore the facts as presented by 3 attorneys and a representative from the county attorney's office. No comment by Mayor Waters.
2000 acres were "zoned" commercial (Webb Mountain - Bankrupt) after Commissioner Kenneth Whaley begged for the change either at a meeting that violated the open meetings law or not. It doesn't matter. A commissioner touted his project to the commission just like he did with the Cove Mountain project. The newly formed ethics committee could set a precedent for how business is conducted in Sevier County by addressing various commissioner conflicts of interests. No comment by Larry Waters.
Seymour residents are looking at the very real possibility of having a 4 diamond "sports complex" for their children. The ball field is in a low lying field that is prone to flooding by a 303 (d) listed (polluted) stream. No comment from the Mayor of Sevier County.
There is no comprehensive growth plan (CGP) for Sevier County. The Tennessee Growth Readiness Project held a workshop in 2003. The county planner attended. Sevier County scored below a 10 on a scale of 1 to 100. Someone then decided that Sevier County would NOT participate in the FREE program. Now taxpayers in Sevier County "get" to benefit by participating in a $60,000 program hosted by a NY company. Public meetings - not important enough to attend.
Mayor Waters received a mountain and hillside building guide over a year ago. No action, no comment by the county mayor.
Without a CGP which is a basic tool that most forward thinking communities and properly managed counties use to plan for growth, Sevier County continues to lack the foresight necessary to address the growth issue.
Mayor Waters said that it's impossible to manage growth: "They all move to Seymour one year and to Pittman Center the next." This isn't management by planning. It's reactionary and it's akin to a ship steering the captain. This lack of planning always results in floundering and ultimately, it fails. When it does in Sevier County, we'll all still be here to fix the mess. Mayor Waters will be long gone and everyone will scratch their heads and wonder "how we got into this mess?"
The "aw shucks" shoulder shrugging by the 25+ year regime of Waters isn't the kind of leadership that we deserve. We need a leader who will stand up and take a position:
No more clear cutting! If you don't have a good landscaping plan, you don't get a permit!
No major commercial cabin rental developments without an environmental impact study to make sure our citizens are safe! Set aside a bond for your neighbor's peace of mind.
No more dumping junk in our streams! If you pollute, you don't get a permit or you get fined.
No more signing 20 year contracts without public notification, public meetings and public input!
No more incomplete development plans. No variances! If you can't comply, you don't get a permit.
No more good old boys conducting business in a back room!
Comments like: "I don't have any control over that," "I try to listen to everyone on all sides and I will continue to do that" and "most of what's in this resolution is already on the books, this just kind of piles it in one area" aren't made by effective leaders. They're a cop out. They are rhetoric. They are just words. They don't mean anything unless they are accompanied by action! Words without action are simply piles of something, for certain!
If all that our leaders give us is rhetoric, then, the recently formed ethics committee will be rendered useless as will most other citizen beneficial initiatives (zoning, building permits, building codes and inspections, fire inspections, impact fees, etc.) in this county. Nepotism will still happen. Commissioners will still promote projects that directly benefit them, their companies or their relatives. Citizens will still feel like "that's just not right" when they read about the actions taken or NOT taken by their elected officials.
Mayor Waters will be shrugging his shoulders: "Aw Shucks!"
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User Comments
Until Sevier County residents come to realize that the power in the county rests in their own hands, the good ole boy politics will continue business as usual in Sevier County. Commissioners who get elected by people by touting their concerns for the county citizenry and then line their pockets at the expense of the county residents are taaking advantage of the public trust. Development in Sevier County is run by whoever greases the right pockets. Backroom deals, deals done by cellphone, deals done over drinks, deals done without any public comment, signing of 20 year leases without any public input, attempting the property claiming an 8x11 sign posted in ONE location accounts for informing the public are only a few of the activities now in play at the county level.
Until Sevier County residents start involving themselves in what happens in the county will their county get any better. Electing people because of their long-time residency or long-term in office isn't enough to re-elect those people taking advantage of the County residents. I for one believe it's time to clean house in Sevier County, starting with Mayor Larry Waters. It's also time the State of Tennessee investigated the state of affairs in Sevier County.
indeed!
The time has come to have the TBI and the FBI investigate the $26,000 shortage of the 2005 State Audit and some of these Good Ole Boys better start explaining where every tax dollar is and went to or it is time to seek indicments and criminal litigation against them. It is put up time Larry Waters, where is my tax money? Give me or a State Grand Jury the answer NOW!
We really need a PLAN for Seymour, or its just going to become an extension of South Knoxville, nothing but more urban sprawl. We will be watching Mr. Waters. Seymour deserves better. WE NEED TO PROTECT THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND CHARACTER OF THIS AREA. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CALL FOR THE OLD SCHOOL ON BOYDS CREEK HWY TO BECOME A PRESERVED HISTORICAL LANDMARK.
I've developed a lot in SevCo. and never greased anyone's palm (the City/County are usually trying to see how much they can get in theway). And as far as that goes neither the City/County nor the rest of the popele who live here have the right to know anything about what I do as long as I am within code, or until they buy in. Its called property rights, I am sure you ggod people aren't familiar with them. You want to keep Mtn top development away, buy the mountaintops, otherwise look at the Natl Park.
It's interesting that you don't have the intestinal fortitude to tell everyone your NAME.
And as far as that goes neither the City/County nor the rest of the popele who live here have the right to know anything about what I do as long as I am within code, or until they buy in." is the biggest lie ever.
Being within code is only doing things to the bare minimum. Since you're obviously a 'bare minimum' developer I understand why you're most likely one who would NOT want a property inspection done for a buyer prior to that person 'buying in'.
People - especially the citizens of the County have a right to know EVERYTHING - besides, it's the citizen's money being spent. People come here because of the beautiful mountain tops and to look at them - they don't want to look at the progressive mountaintop development that is destroying the beauty for which this county is famous.
I'M SICK OF SEEING LOG CABINS W/ GREEN ROOFS & GREEN SUTTERS. ARE YOU???
ALL YOU SEE IN MYRTLE BEACH S.C. ALL YOU SEE ARE HIGH RISES. FUNNY THE SAME PEOPLE OWN BOTH. LOG CABINS IN E. TN. & HIGH RISES AT THE BEACH
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