Burn Baby Burn
| Apparently, that's the attitude of one local
developer. With our area in one of the worst droughts in recent years,
with the air quality at it's poorest and the surrounding land as dry as
a tinder box, the developers of the Creekwood Development just off Hwy.
321 throw caution and common since to the wind, literally.
For at least two days, a continuous open burn has smoldered within the development smoking up the whole area and dropping hot ash far down wind. But at least the developer is saving money by burning rather than hauling away or mulching the brush. Never mind the health hazards or the dangers associated with the open burning, the most important thing is that the developer saves his money and apparently the Lenoir City Council has given it's full blessing to this ongoing disregard to the health and safety of the citizens of Lenoir City and Loudon County. The Lenoir City Council has been constantly lobbied by citizens and the Loudon County Air Quality Task Force to follow the county's lead and ban all open burning for developments. However the council has refused to take any action to eliminate burning. Citing concerns that a burn ban might hurt development within the city, council has apparently decided that development is more important than the health of the residents. This is just one more example of the total disregard and contempt held by developers and LC officials toward the local residents. |