Letter to the Editor
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor
While it seems that our county leaders are willing to “resolve” to be against a conservation project to save wilderness land for public good along a proposed rail trail, it seems they have no issue allowing or encouraging the dumping of trash on our beautiful county. Commissioners, who owns property adjacent to the proposed trail, were the ones who challenged those in favor of the rail trail to imagine having a bike trail in their back yard. Rest assured, ALL of the residents in my part of the county would trade places in a heartbeat for the chance to have a beautiful park rather than garbage brought in by rail from who knows how far off with who knows what sort of toxic garbage might be brought here.
Were there ever any public debates over the idea of a second landfill? Any discussions about the potential for train loads of garbage sitting on tracks alongside residents’ property waiting to be unloaded? Were there public notices about the environmental impact on the creeks and streams that feed Big South Fork? Any controls on what type of garbage would be brought? Any debate over impact of landowners adjacent to a new Trash Train line?
While I have invested my life’s savings into Timber Rock Lodge to build up an abandoned building and clear-cut forest into a showplace hotel for visitors, a center for community activity / charitable fundraising, and a place of pride for residents (not to mention a place of employment for dozens of locals over the past 5 years), the best our commissioners and county mayor can do is sit silent and idle while millions of tons of rotting garbage is dumped in MY back yard? I guess commissioners are not resolved to protect ALL property owners in Scott County, just their own.
Perhaps this is a story worthy of public discourse and opinions and exposure of the parties involved. While no one volunteering to explore a public bike path will be making money from it, I am 100% certain the people behind this project are the ones truly lining their pockets as we have been accused of. Our names are published on a public website, we hold open meetings to hear concerns and find solutions and opportunities…who are the people now profiting from dumping? Are they looking to create a legacy to be proud of?
I recognize that landfill permits were once issued long ago to parties now deceased, but it still seems ironic to have people voicing opinions against a conservation project while saying nothing about this. To suggest that jobs hauling dump trucks full of trash is more suited for our residents than jobs related to serving tourists with shuttle services, bike shops, ice cream stores, lodging, restaurants, seems to me to undervalue the talents of our neighbors.
Our leaders lament how historically put upon Scott Countians have been by coal and lumber companies over the years. How outsiders come here to make money and leave the county worse than they found it…well this seems like a modern-day version of the same situation. History is allowed to repeat itself without the slightest concern for sharing how the county plans to guarantee the safety and peace of property owners next to this project.
Here are some possible welcome signs we might add to the county line:
Option 1) Welcome to Scott County, home of outdoor adventure along Tennessee’s Longest Bike Path and the pristine Big South Fork.
Option 2) Scott County, home of the Trash Train. Go Away! We don’t want you here, but feel free to send us your garbage so your hometown stays nice…we couldn’t care less about the nature God gave us dominion over.
Regards,
Ralph Trieschmann
Property Owner and concerned citizen