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Commission delays
zoning vote
Kayli Martin news-herald.net Loudon County Commission unanimously tabled one zoning vote after hearing from multiple residents regarding the property. Commission met Oct. 2 for a regularly scheduled meeting and a public hearing about four proposed changes to county zoning.
The owner of one parcel in District 5 seeks the
removal of an agriculture stipulation for C-2
general commercial to put storage units on the
property. Commissioners discussed the property
at a Sept. 18 workshop.
District 5 Commissioner Van Shaver said he has been sweating over the property for years. “Trees growing forever would be fine with me, but sooner or later something’s coming,” Shaver said. “I don’t know what the best item up there is. I know I’ve heard and talked to you all. I’ve heard tonight, ‘would be nice like it is.’ Well, it’s not going to stay that way. The reality of it is I don’t know how you fix that unless one of us buys it. I can’t. “I’d like to make a motion to table this another 30 days until our next meeting,” he added. Shaver said the extra time would give Ben Mullins, attorney for the property owner, and neighbors the opportunity to find common ground regarding development of the land. Residents are concerned about safety, traffic and stormwater runoff. A parcel in District 3 to be used for a Dollar General was approved for C-2 general commercial. Another property in District 5 on Waller Ferry Road was also approved for C-2 general commercial with the stipulation Waller Ferry not be used for commercial access. The last property in District 4 on Simpson Road was unanimously denied for rezoning from A-2 rural residential to R-1 suburban-residential. In unrelated business, Shaver presented a resolution calling for the county to oppose future federal or state mandates without the necessary resources needed to support the mandates. The resolution specifically references mandates regarding masks, the closing of businesses and churches and limitations placed on public gatherings at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution indicates the federal government “grossly overstepped its authority” with such measures and county residents faced consequences in employment or entry into establishments when refusing to get a vaccine or wear a mask. The resolutions also calls into question the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements and claims such mandates were used to impact the 2020 presidential election. The motion, made by Shaver and seconded by Commissioner Rosemary Hines Quillen, passed unanimously. “I believe a decision on the virus, any medical issues, belong between a person and their medical doctor,” Henry Cullen, chairman, said. Commissioner Adam Waller questioned some of the boards and committees up for review on the county agenda. A discussion over frequency and use led to a decision by Loudon County Mayor Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw to withdraw the matter from the agenda. The commission discussed reviewing boards and committees at Monday’s workshop. During the public comments portion of the meeting, Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission member Monty Ross raised concerns about minutes from the Sept. 5 meeting when commissioners voted 7-2 to remove Pat Hunter from the LCSWDC and Public Records Committee. At that meeting, Commissioner William Jenkins questioned if the commission could legally move forward with Hunter’s removal under Tennessee Code 68-211-905, which deals with solid waste authorities and their management. Ross had brought the statute to the attention of commissioners. Ross said the discussion was not recorded in the minutes. She said she believes the exchange was important because it explains why two commissioners, Jenkins and Quillen, voted against removal. Cullen said minutes reflect the actions and vote taken by commissioners and not public comments. Ross said she believes the discussion was part of the action and permanents record were incomplete without the exchange. Susan Gingrich, a Tellico Village resident, then spoke about an email she allegedly sent Waller on Sept. 9 to inquire where contact information regarding members of the Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission was located on the county’s website. Waller is chairman of the LCWDC. Gingrich said she sent a followup email about the matter Sept. 16 and copied Cullen. Cullen confirmed at the Sept. 18 workshop that he received the email but the request was addressed to Waller, who was on a business trip. Gingrich said she received a letter Sept. 21 from Waller indicating he received no emails from Gingrich in his Loudon County government inbox. She said the letter also claimed there was no document listing the contact information of LCSWDC members and to let the letter serve as denial of her request. Gingrich said she received no messages that her emails bounced and expressed concern about the county IT department and security. She also said she had a problem with tax dollars being spent for the salary of an official who uses his website to “demean, defame and prevaricate” those he does not like and compared the action to a high school “slam book.” Gingrich, who has spoken at meetings before, traded words with Shaver at the Sept. 18 workshop over a Sept. 11 blog he posted. The verbal exchange lead to Gingrich being asked to sit down. At the Oct. 2 meeting, Cullen asked that there be no personal attacks. He later asked Gingrich to sit down after her high school comment. Gingrich said Jesus is always with her when she comes to the meetings and he was telling her to stand up this time instead of sit down. She then asked if commission would call officers on her to arrest or taser her. Cullen again asked her to sit down. Gingrich continued to speak despite Cullen hitting a gavel for order. Cullen commanded her to sit down or an officer would remove her. Before sitting down, Gingrich said she was embarrassed to have a commission with some of the officials on it. |
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10/16/23