Letter To The Editor

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Submitted by: Dale C. Allen

Dear Editor:

Jefferson County Commission has cancelled funding the proposed Megasite.  Jefferson County’s citizens should understand this did not occur because of Valley Home area farmers and homeowners selfishly opposing use of their land.  The Megasite’s demise occurred after an opportunity for proper study and consideration leading our Commission to understand it was not viable economically.  Impacted homeowners and farmers should be thanked for the gift of time they gave all citizens of Jefferson County to properly consider all of the hype and questionable representations made at the start of this project in January 2013.  Farmers and homeowners of the effected Valley Home community took the time to do what initial proponents of the Megasite should have done, which is properly research the sales pitch made by the Chamber of Commerce, EDOC, Moxley-Carmichael, and McCallum-Sweeney. 

During the time given to us as a result of questions raised by local farmers and homeowners, we learned the following:

1.  Neither TVA nor state government ever committed to providing the $246 million dollars of acquisition and infrastructure funds, which was represented as forthcoming by EDOC’s sponsored report written by Younger & Associates; and

2.  No automotive manufacturer expressed any interest in the Jefferson County Megasite location; and

3.  If an automotive manufacturer had been forthcoming we learned that in addition to $60 million dollars required of Jefferson County for initial acquisition and infrastructure, our county would have been required to provide a burdensome $346 million dollars of tax incentives and subsidies over thirty (30) years; and

4.  We learned that in order to qualify as a real Megasite at least two independent rail providers are required by any potential automotive manufacturer.  Not even one rail line is located in the proposed area; and

5.  By simple research, which should have been done by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and EDOC, area farmers and homeowners discovered McCallum-Sweeney was selling its “certification” services throughout the southeast using the same terms as used in Jefferson County of “game changer,” “perfect fit,” and “strategically located.”  Even as McCallum-Sweeney was selling its Megasite certification services to Jefferson County simultaneously the company was pursuing competitive projects in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida; and

6.  During this time, we learned McCallum-Sweeney left a lengthy trail of vacant, developed Megasites in Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, and Virginia, including two very expensive and vacant Megasites near Clarksville, Tennessee and in Crocket County, Tennessee.  The latter two cost local counties and Tennessee significant tax dollars. 

Farmers and homeowners in the impacted area stood up in opposition to the Megasite proposal giving us all time to learn these critical facts thereby saving Jefferson County’s taxpayers an initial $2.5 million dollars to implement the certification and funding McCallum-Sweeney’s sales efforts, plus the $60 million dollars of cash and $346 million dollars of tax incentives, which were to come later. 

Why did EDOC officials, Chamber Officers, and other County officials not learn these facts before leading this community into this fruitless and community divisive exercise beginning in January 2013?  This information was easy to find and these officials are paid to do the research.  Fortunately, a group of unpaid farmers and homeowners, who were ambushed by this Megasite proposal in January, took the time to bring these truths to our attention.  Next time EDOC and the Chamber should do their homework properly. 

In anticipation of next time, our County Commissioners should take a close look at how EDOC and the Chamber are funded.  County Commission should look at these organizations with an idea of broadening the membership to make both organizations more inclusive and open in their dealings with Jefferson County citizens.  No one in our county is opposed to economic development and job growth but next time we should all take the time to study and be more prudent.  In the meantime, proper gratitude should be expressed to these local citizens living within the Megasite footprint. 

Respectfully submitted,

Dale C. Allen