Mega Collapse – Plug Pulled on East TN Regional Megasite Proposal
The Jefferson County Economic Oversight Committee announced today that it will no longer pursue the proposed Megasite that was to be located in Jefferson County. Presented to the public in early January, the Megasite garnered serious opposition from property owners in the footprint of the project. Initially, the project was touted as having financial support from the State of Tennessee and Tennessee Valley Authority. In a February 18, 2013 issue of the Jefferson County Post, both Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and TVA gave statements denying any commitment for a financial buy in to the project. The State’s statement was reiterated in a video published on March 4, 2013 in the Post of State of Tennessee Commissioner Hagerty addressing the State House Budget Committee about the State’s involvement in the project. Commissioner Hagerty confirmed that there had been no request for financial assistance from the State and that it would be difficult for the State of Tennessee to make further commitments to another Megasite project due to the strain of the State owned Memphis Megasite. On March 21, 2013 Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri stated that he favored withdrawing from the current project and going back to the drawing board, citing lack of financial commitment from anyone other than Jefferson County taxpayers and questions regarding feasibility of the project.
Mayor Palmieri stated today that he hopes that the failure to realize the Megasite project does not dampen the spirit for economic progress in Jefferson County. He said that a push to bring in appropriate industry and business is pivotal to the economic prosperity of the County and the viability of a future Megasite is a possibility that, while still a real possibility, should be approached in a comprehensive way with financial feasibility in mind.
Jefferson County Commission Chairman Mills stated that the project was at the point that EDOC and the Commission felt that it had played out. Rather than invest County funds in continuing to pursue the Megasite, funds can be used to research other areas of economic growth for Jefferson County. He said that the issue was brought to the table and presented to the people but it just did not have the support needed to progress.
Scott Hurley, Attorney for property owners in the footprint said “On behalf of all the families that joined together to save their farms and homes, we are very grateful to hear that EDOC has recommended that the proposed mega site project should be terminated. We will continue to carefully watch the response of the Jefferson County Commission to the recommendation from EDOC, and we trust that the Commission will support the recommendation. In light of the risks of the proposal, we firmly believe that that the right decision has been made.”
Commissioner Jimmy Carmichael said that he was glad to hear that common sense prevailed and that more insight into Committees such as EDOC was needed so that citizens are better informed of their actions. The Commissioner stated that his district was blind sighted by the Megasite proposal and that groups that drive issues that involve taxpayer money should be accountable to the public.
The Megasite has been the thrust of economic development in Jefferson County for several months and, now that the project has been dismissed, the County will need to look for other avenues to boost the economy. Garrett Wagley, Director of EDOC for Jefferson County, said that jobs are the number one issue for Jefferson County and that there will be a continued effort to recruit industry and business to the area. The County may still pursue County owned property, according to Wagley, however not for a Megasite project, and economic growth in the form of industry recruitment and tourism will be the propriety of EDOC.
