With growth come certain problems. Roads, services and schools are immediately impacted. The county just completed a 17 million dollar jail addition needed from growth. Why are so many people wanting to settle in Loudon County? Maybe it's due to the fact, the county has the lowest property tax rate in the state? Maybe it's the low cost of living and our country setting? What ever it is, it's bringing people in droves which will ultimately destroy the very aspects of Loudon County that we all enjoy. 

About twenty years ago, a major survey was done across the county to see how residents felt about the future of Loudon County and the direction they wanted to see the county go. Overwhelmingly, the survey showed that that citizens of that time wanted to see the county maintain it's rural, country setting with control of growth and urban sprawl. Obviously, that message has been lost on many current local officials.

It's time again for local officials to take a close look at the growth coming to the county. Unfortunately, Lenoir and Lenoir City officials are a lost cause. They have completely sold out to developers and big money interests. But there may still be hope for the county.

Most recently, county commission found it's self between a money making developer and a group of citizens from the Glendale community. The developer wants to make money selling homes, the community wants to keep it's rural, farm, open spaces intact. Ultimately, commission sided with the community.

So what can county commissioners do? We can put in place planning and zoning policies that can limit the impact growth brings to the county and it may be time to have that discussion.

At the next county commission workshop, I will have on the agenda a discussion on what we could/should do before it's too late. I would really like to hear from as many of you as possible how you feel about the direction of Loudon County and how you would like to see the county proceed in this unprecedented growth.

My email:

sarahlccom@aol.com