| If something bad is happening
to Loudon County, you can bet Loudon County Economic Development Agency,
EDA, director, Jack Qualls, is somewhere involved in it.
Whether it's illegal annexations
in Lenoir City, questionable annexations in Loudon, Chinese land
investments in Hotchkiss Valley or massive tax breaks, PILOTS, for
businesses or apartments, Qualls always has his finger somewhere in the
pot. Qualls, of Knox County, came to the EDA back in 2016 and he's not
been good for Loudon County. Mr. Qualls has made it clear he is under no
obligation to speak to county commission even going so far as to refuse
to answer commission questions in a recent meeting.
Currently, Loudon County pays 68.8%, Loudon City pays
15.3% and Lenoir City pays 13.9% with 1.9% coming from the Committee of
100 to fund the EDA. In dollar amounts that comes to;
Loudon County paying-$177,174.00
Loudon City paying-$39,345.00
Lenoir City paying-$35,744.00
Committee of 100-$4,886.00
Total contributions- $257,148.00
Why is the county paying nearly five times more than the
two cities? Especially given that all the industries and businesses that
the EDA has supposedly brought in have located in one or the
other of the cities.
In last Monday's county commission meeting, commission
voted to approve sending a letter of expectations to the EDA, see below.
The letter basically lays out the county's position when there's a
conflict between the cities and the county. We expect the EDA to default
to the county's position since we are, by far, the largest funding body
of the EDA, paying all of Qualls 100k+ salary as well as his assistant
and as well as most of their operating expenses.
The idea of sending the letter of expectations, to the
EDA, came from a joint meeting of the EDA study committee when it was
suggested the county should communicate our position with the EDA.
The EDA is an out dated, obsolete organization that
should have been disbanded years ago. Unfortunately, quirks in state law
require a joint EDA by the county and cities or potentially lose some
state grants. But the state law does not mandate that the EDA have a
$100,000.00+ per year director.
Personally, I
don't think the EDA is worth any tax dollars but somehow they keep
getting a boat load.
Letter Of Expectations;
To Mr. Jack
Qualls and all EDA Board members,
Where
As, in 2000, Loudon County, Loudon City, Lenoir City,
Philadelphia and Greenback adopted the Comprehensive
Growth Plan, Public Chapter 1101, mandated by the state
of Tennessee.
Where
As, under the Comprehensive Growth Plan, each city
identified the areas where expected growth of the cities
would likely take place in the years to come. These
areas are known as the Urban Growth Boundary, UGB, and
would be the only areas the cities were allowed to
annex. No annexations would be allowed outside the Urban
Growth Boundaries without reconvening the coordinating
committee required under Public Chapter 1101 or under
very limited exceptions.
Where
As, in the last few years, the Loudon County Economic
Development Agency, EDA, led by their director Jack
Qualls, has helped the cities of Lenoir City and Loudon
with legal annexations within their UGB’s and in Lenoir
City, at least two illegal annexations outside their
UGB, without informing the county of any of the
annexations, legal or illegal. Most recently, the EDA,
led by their director Jack Qualls, has been assisting
the city of Loudon to find an avenue to accomplish the
annexation of nearly four hundred acres of land in
Hotchkiss Valley, outside the city of Loudon’s UGB, and
against the wishes of Loudon County Commission who
oppose any such annexation. The nearly four hundred
acres has a majority ownership of Communist China
citizens.
Now
Therefore let it be resolved that; when a conflict of
actions arises between the local governments of Loudon
City, Lenoir City and Loudon County, the funding bodies
of the EDA, that the position of Loudon County would
always take precedence over all others, given that
Loudon County is the majority funding stakeholder of the
EDA paying 68.8% of all EDA funding.
And Finally Let It Be Known, That given
the fact that Loudon County is by far the largest
funding body for the EDA, it is the expectation of
Loudon County that the EDA, led by their director Jack
Qualls or any future directors, would always represent
the county’s interests over all others in any conflicts
between the funding bodies and inform County Commission
quarterly of
developments and activities of the Loudon County
Economic Development Agency. The health, safety, and
welfare of Loudon County residents demand it.
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