Brymer Creek muddy, residents see clearly the impact of Sustainable Development on our environment.

Brymer Creek muddy again as residents see clearly the impact of Sustainable Development on our environment.

Once again the creeks are muddy as rural development progresses and the City of Cleveland presses on to build another Industrial Park in rural Cleveland Tennessee. Bradley County Tennessee has been dealt another heavy blow to the quality of our life.

The Chamber of Commerce and it’s many elected representatives that are pushing sustainable development  in our community need to hear from you about the steps they are taking that is leading to the corrosion of our city. Big  money, cronyism and greed are driving this decline in our quality of life.

Muddy runoff from an Industrial park is once again destroying our beautiful landscape and endangering the citizens of Bradley County Tennessee.

Poor inspections, careless contractors, speedy destruction and excavation of hundreds of acres of wooded land is promoting the  pollution of Brymer Creek.

The citizens of Bradley County have seen enough! Big Government forced upon us by hapless unelected bureaucrats must stop. It is time they listen to the citizenry.

Help save Brymer Creek, help save Bradley County! Stop the destruction of our land and its infrastructure.

Contact your Cleveland City Councilman,  Bradley County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, State Representative Kevin Brooks and Eric Watson, Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, State Senator Mike Bell and Todd Gardenhire and Governor Bill Haslam.

TDEC has been contacted. Several elected officials are seeking information as we speak. More on this as the story unfolds.

Channel 12 News and the Cleveland Daily Banner have expressed a desire to cover this story soon.

Videos of the muddy creeks:

Contact your elected and non elected reps and demand something be done and NOW!

Brymer Creek degradation, a result of talk, little action

From the beginning the warning bells have sounded as many citizens spoke up about the economic and environmental impact of such a large construction project like the Spring Branch Industrial Park would have on our community.

I think Matt Bentley said it best almost a year ago as the vote to go forward with the park was being initiated.

“I want you to think long and hard about the pros and cons of this development,” community member Matt Bentley said.

Bentley said he and others in the community did not feel respected in the process thus far.

The above concerns by resident Matt Bentley and other concerned citizens, including members of the Tea Party of Bradley County now sound like an ominous warning that got neglected resulting in our elected leaders rendering the seriousness of this debate to an afterthought.

Repeated warnings of possible degradation to the environment around this sight and to the creek were voiced for almost a year prior to this most recent negative impact to the states fifth cleanest creek.

You can clearly see, a year ago, where the ball got dropped although two of Bentley’s concerns were addressed in a paragraph added before the original resolution, presented by 6th District Commissioner Robert Rominger as reported in the Cleveland Daily Banner.

This added paragraph said steps would be taken to limit the impact on the community from the industrial park. The proposed steps include: “(1) sewer service to the proposed Spring Brach Road site will be provided from an existing 8-inch sewer line on APD 40, (2) buffers will surround building sites as shown on the concept drawing, (3) Spring Branch Road will be closed and will not be used for ingress or egress from the industrial park and (4) Harriman Road will serve as a secondary method of ingress and egress from the site and every effort will be made to prevent traffic use other than in an emergency.”

The resolution does not address the community’s concern about preserving Spring Branch, Brymer Creek and Candies Creek from storm water runoff as reported in the Cleveland Daily Banner 12 months ago.

Seventh District Commissioner Bill Winters said the Commission does in fact respect the community’s concerns. Winters said he shared concerns about protecting the area’s creeks.

“I don’t think any of us want an industrial park to negatively impact your community,” Winters said.

Mr Winters spoke of it, showed concern, went a step further to say he heard our concerns and was interested in protecting the area creeks and not negatively impact them, but it appears to be only talk. To my knowledge, no plan or oversight was planned beyond talking about it and acknowledging that the problem or potential exists.

We are always so quick to form a committee to study one thing or another, this would and could have been an excellent opportunity to say we are going to follow this through to make sure this didn’t happen to one of the cleanest creeks in the state.

Fast forward one year and we see Brymer creek and the surrounding area being inundated and degraded by muddy polluted stormwater runoff at the Spring Branch construction site.

During the Bradley County Commission voting session meeting Monday evening, Commissioner Ed Elkins said, “Last week I reported on a situation down in the McDonald area or Exit 20 area involving some stormwater runoff. Subsequent to the meeting last week, I did learn that it had been looked at by TDEC and the environmental engineers from the city of Cleveland and I was assured that corrective action was in place to correct that.” Mr. Elkins was referring to the stormwater runoff coming from road and industrial development projects near Spring Branch causing muddy water to flow into Brymer Creek as reported by the Chattanoogan.com.

Dan Rawls addressed the commission stating, “This situation out in McDonald is why the people of McDonald were opposed to this. I don’t know if anyone has seen the video of the degradation of that creek, but you were warned about it from the beginning. Who is accountable for this? The people who are affected by this are in the county. How can you allow that to happen to a waterway that’s that clean and that recognized? We were all told that would never happen. Who is accountable, the government, the people who did it or the contractors? What’s the answer here? What’s going on? We tried to warn you that this was going to happen. Why were the systems not put in place to have prevented this in the first place? I fought this thing for over a year and they’ve fought it longer than that. I think there needs to be some answers and some apologies to the people that live out there around that creek that warned you about this.”

Commissioner Elkins responded, “The permit for that project was issued to the city of Cleveland. They have responsibility for it. The contractor did not take the necessary precautions and that was unfortunate. Once TDEC was notified, they did get on it and got the city down there. It’s kind of like closing the barn door once the horse escaped, but I’m told they are taking precautions to do that now. Clearly someone dropped the ball.”

Commissioner Peak Jones said, “The city of Cleveland does have precautions in place for that process. Where it fell through, nobody knows.”

Commissioner Elkins commented, “The city annexed that area and they pulled the general permit for that project to do the road. So, Bradley County really has no jurisdiction over it. I guess we could file a complaint with the city because where the damage is being done is inside Bradley County. It falls under the city to explore it. I think it would be appropriate for us to file a complaint with them and ask them to do this.”

Commissioner Adam Lowe said, “We went to great lengths to have meetings with people in that community. I remember listening to a very healthy active discussion about the pros and cons and figuring out how to mitigate as much as we could. I’m having trouble recalling if anyone from the city was there but it was prior to the annexation. Right now, I’m a little shattered about going to such great lengths as a county commission to try to hear from the constituents in that area. It was such a high priority in my opinion. I feel like for some reason, somewhere it stopped being a high priority.”

May I add something here Commissioner Lowe, while it was evidently labeled a “high priority” that’s all it was, a label. It was all talk and little action. This is where we always seem to get bogged down in the political machine. We gladly offer talk because it can easily be quoted in a news article, so we can cut it out and put it in our scrap book. Getting our hands dirty and doing something on the other hand is a whole new realm we seldom like to explore because it takes a little more effort.

Commissioner Yarber suggested Commission Assistant Amy Moore provide more information regarding the matter and recommended further discussion at a future work session to come up with a thought process to put in place on how to handle the situation.

Chairman Alford said, “Me and Mrs. Moore will get in touch with people from the city regarding the matter tomorrow to try to get more information. That is, if they are willing to meet with us.”

With all due respect to the Commissioners, City Councilmen and women, both Mayors, the Industrial Development Board and Doug Berry of the Chamber of Commerce, one thing clearly stands out in the paragraphs above of the coverage of tbe meeting.

We love to give lip service to the general public and say what we think the people want to hear. We are all very quick to listen to concerned citizens and their gripes and complaints and then talk about plans to fix it. This debacle has left many scampering for someone to blame with hoardes of elected and non elected officials washing their hands of the responsibility of the pollution of Brymer Creek.

Instead of one person stepping up and committing to making sure not one more ounce of pollution flows into Brymer Creek, it seems the only viable and forseeable solution is let’s talk and talk and talk about it till we have talked enough then let’s talk some more.

But when all is said and done the end result is a once clean creek is now dirty and polluted and all we have done is talk about it to the point of nausea.

Talking without followup seems to have gotten us in this dilemma. Lip service without a plan is exactly that, lip service.

Who is to blame? Ultimately the voter will decide. They will mull over the previous four years of service and make an informed decision.

It would have been so simple to take our concerns, formulate a plan, follow up on plan, provide oversight of construction and make sure that when the first scoop of dirt was moved, no runoff was going to pollute Brymer creek.

The ball was dropped indeed. Many chose to talk and even more failed to execute.

Source of info:

Please visit this site frequently as it is chocked full of note worthy news articles that affect us daily. http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/9/5/233582/Stormwater-Runoff-Into-Brymer-Creek.

http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/15419958/article-County-delays-industrial-park-funding-vote

Bradley County Wheel Tax dead, attention turns to those who voted for it

It was no surprise to tax paying citizens that a 32 dollar tax didnt pass in Bradley County! The citizens of Bradley County have once again said loudly “WE DO NOT WANT NEW TAXES, PERIOD!” We live in a tough economy yet our elected officials continue to attempt to dip into the pockets of the citizens once again to fix their budget woes.

The 76 percent of Bradley Countians that voted “NO” to a new wheel tax sent a resounding and clear message to it’s elected officials that we don’t want you dipping into our pockets to fix your budget problems. Either step up and fix the problem or get out of the way. We have given you two years plus to fix it and not a solution yet!

We the people can no longer sit by as our school board and the county commission mismanage our budget and overspend just because the available line of credit is there to do so. We are millions in the hole and it is time to call these leaders out who have passively allowed our budget to get a pass just because we have called it balanced. How can you call it balanced with nearly 100 million in debt? Where did that money go? And we have no consistent plan to pay down our debt! Eventually, we run out and we go bankrupt.

Our haphazard, half way, non chalant effort to bring down our debt is lacking a definitive plan and it is way over due. In 2 years, we can start concentrating on getting representatives in our districts that will truly represent the people, not a few special interest groups that makes the politicians feel good. The people far outmeasure them and it’s about time our elected leaders listen to their voice.

The Bradley County School Board presented their wants and the Bradley County Commission voted 11-2-1 for the new tax and its time to expose these tax and spend liberals for what they truly are, liberals in disguise. In some circles these folks are called RINOs, Republicans In Name Only, except for the one known Democrat, he is just voting party line. Again, that’s my opinion!

County Commissioners Ed Elkins and Mel Griffith are the only two not supportive of a wheel tax and have gone on record several times as saying so and voted against this wheel tax.. The remaining 12 and the one that was absent for this important vote must be dealt with and shown that if you choose to tax the citizens, the people will once again vote to speak their mind. The next election will place a target on the remaining commission members and voted out of office and replaced with someone that truly cares about the people of this community!

I am already hearing rumblings that since the wheel tax didn’t pass the school board is going to re present their wants and possibly a showdown over a new property tax increase will be in our future. Who will vote for this? We will see. This can also be put to referendum, just depends where our elected officials alliances are.

We have plenty of time to put together a game plan to oust these progressive liberals, so let’s get busy! We need elected officials in office that represent the people not the few who are influenced by those that whisper in their ears to return favors or maintain a certain pseudo status in town. Those days are fading away! Time for true patriots to direct the tide back in favor of the citizens of Bradley County!

http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/17754656/article-County-approves-wheel-tax-change?instance=latest_articles

Committee to preserve Georgetown speaks: No to rezoning for Industry

About 100 citizens packed the Georgetown Baptist Church in Cleveland Temnessee tonight.

The citizens had a few things on their minds. No! No to rezoning! No to wide roads swiping their private property! No to big government telling the little man what to do! No to encroachment on their property! No to anything you do without our input! End of story!

The meeting was well organized and Jeff Miller was the main coordinator tonight! I asked Jeff why are you getting involved? He replied, “because it is in my backyard now.”

Often times the greatest patriots are born when the government makes it personal. This group of citizens were personally involved tonight and mad! The America I lived in as a kid when I was young returned tonight. The red white and blue was vivid and striking, patriotism was at a fever pitch, citizens of Georgetown, I applaud your efforts.

Many in the crowd provided input and many voiced discontent with plans to change their community with a rezoning request by a well connected citizen and realtor in their own community, Mrs Judy Allen.

Judy Allen has requested rezoning of her property for I1 commercial and it is rumored that some type of gravel or concrete company is planning to purchase her property and turn it into basically a parking lot with multiple huge buildings on it.

With this proposal our way of life will change forever. Infrastructure costs passed on to property owners, decrease in property value, increase in property taxes, environmental factors, water runoff, wetlands, wildlife dusturbance, blasting, runoff, pollution of creeks and environment, vilification of those that lead this effort, the BCC Comprehensive Growth Plan and how it figures into the big picture were among the issues discussed by the locals.

The ability and will of a group to organize itself against runaway government is refreshing. Just as the commoners in Boston railed against unfair taxes on their tea, so does the commoner of Georgetown Who says NO to new rezoning efforts which stand to change the landscape forever and never to return.

I say we continue to fan the flames of liberty in every community in Bradley County and into the US. The key is leaders in every community stepping up who are personally involved and encourage community input that will eventually turn that resentment for change on their elected and non elected appointees.

Eventually, and in great enough force the so called non appointed leaders will hear the cry of the citizens and not choose to ignore their demands.

The next group goal for the Committee to preserve Georgetown is to attend the County Commissioner meeting in force on June 4 th to send a strong message to their elected representatives and that message is to vote NO to the rezoning of Georgetown.

A giant has been awakened in Bradley County, years of education and awareness by tea party, 912, liberty and “regular citizens” types are starting to pay huge dividends for our republic.

In my observation, it doesnt take a particular designation to make waves, it takes being American and speaking up when you have been done wrong and you feel your government has taken that one step too far to stay quiet any longer.

Bravo, Georgetown! Bravo! Belief in the spirit of patriotism in me has been reenergized, restored and reinvigorated! Move forward cautiously I warned the group, “for some reason the good ole boy machine turns on the citizen when they speak up!” “Expect vilification, this is their game. Many steps will be taken before the vote on June 4th, don’t become complacent.”

“Folks in the room like Mr Mike Smith who have said the vote is safe, don’t be satisfied with that. I believe we have Mr Elkins and Caywood who will vote NO, but it takes 6 more to win the vote. Don’t stop the pressure! Dont accept a delay vote either, only a yes or no vote!”

“I have walked in and out of a commission meeting fully expecting a vote to go one way and it end up completely opposite. Many backroom meetings will be held, many ideas will flow from those who choose big business over the rights of the citizens.”

“Pressure will be added to these elected officials to vote one way or another over the next few weeks, some may cave to that pressure. Call them all and tell them to vote NO!”

“Beware as the proverbial strikes to your leaders will start as soon as soon as they leave this room tonight! Support them with your lives when they make this stand!” You have made our forefathers proud. Well done.”

The committee is encouraging large masses of people to be at the rezoning vote in Bradley County on June 4th at the Bradley County Courthouse at 7 pm. Great numbers will sway things and if they aren’t swayed by public outcry, we simply acknowledge a yes vote, mark in your memory bank and next election cycle send their bags packing.

It’s that simple and that is how we do thing in the good ole U S of A!

More later!

Georgetown Community meeting tonight: Rezoning, property rights, SR 60 on the agenda

Tonight! Community meeting at Georgetown Baptist Church on SR 60, across from the Family Dollar, 730 pm, bring someone with you!

A sleepy little piece of rural America nestled into Bradley Counties rolling hills and meadows is being prepared to become a hustle and bustle rezoned I (1) heavy industrial park complete with a 5 lane highway with major intersection development at Hopewell School!

The existing property rights and values of that property are at stake. Many realtors and key players in and around the planning commissions stand to gain heavily from this property grab.

The vote went forward on May 1, 2012 by the Bradley County Planning Commission despite a packed room of concerned citizens saying “NO!” Tony Young was quoted by the Cleveland Daily Banner, “I think we get the gist”, he said, “You all are against it.” Then moments later, the Commission voted in favor of the rezoning. Mr Young (Works for Crye Leike) abstained from the vote because of conflicts with Allen. Judy Allen who is not a member of the planning commission but from my understanding is/was a Crye Leike Realtor and owner of some of the property in the rezoning area. The vote was approved 3 to 2 with Commissioner and Planning member Mel Griffith, Tom Crye and Stacey Tucker voting yes and Janie Bishop and Daryl Sneed voting no. Planning
Commissioners Lisa Webb and Lindsay Hathcock and Greg Calfee were absent. Why Mr Tom Crye(in the realty business) continued on with his vote I do not know.

My overwhelming thought coming out of this meeting is why were so many “vested” and standing to benefit from this rezoning ever allowed on this board and some still voted? Why didn’t our one standing County Commissioner on the board vote with the people and vote NO? Another thought, with so many “absent and abstaining” why was the vote not delayed till the appointed board could have had better attendance which could have turned the vote. Why?

Many in the room that evening were encouraged to vote no or to delay the vote to “gather” more information. County Commissioners Terry Caywood and Ed Elkins, both from 1st District representatives even suggested delaying the vote. Why did the planning commission elect to bypass those requests by it’s citizens and elected representatives and vote in favor? Whatever the reason, herein lies the answer.

Living in a rural area is an enviable position to be in from city dwellers. I love the open area. I love to stand on my front porch and see pasture, birds and listen to a roaring stream and birds chirping. I do not want to look out my door and see a new superstore or a steel grey building shadowing me from the sun and the traffic getting back and forth to it. Leave the county alone! Leave our property alone. We like it the way it is. Rural and beautiful!

Come join us at the meeting tonight. 730 pm at the Georgetown Baptist Church across from the Family Dollar on SR 60. Come early, it is going to be crowded. We must take a stand against our elected and nonelected representatives that are calling all the shots despite our objections. They and their selected minions work for us and if we want things a certain way then they should act accordingly. Community activism against is the backbone of our society. When that voice is taken away by those elected to represent us, especially the non elected boards, Committees and Chambers of Commerces there is tyranny under a monarchy. Liberty and a republic does not exist when the peoples voice is silenced and their efforts vilified. Community and public dissent is the great equalizer not the great evil that certain “good ole boys” in town wish to make you. Our country was formed by dissenters and so called “trouble makers” in our not to distant past.

Embrace these citizens that are boldly and courageously standing between us and an encroaching government, stand with them. They are what America needs more of. Send a strong message that we are not the bad guy. Instead, we are a very strong, well oiled group that are standing up for the fight armored with our inalienable (God given, not man or Government given rights but inalienable! Mainly mong those are our property rights.

The Bradley County Commission is planning to vote on this rezoning issue on June 4th, 2012, 7pm, at the Bradley County Commission meeting room at the courthouse. Please plan to be there and bring someone from the Georgetown, Hopewell area with you.

In the meantime, call your commissioner and tell them you want them to vote NO on this rezoning request. Tell them you want a NO vote, not a DELAY vote. They frequently will delay the vote in hopes of public dissent to cool somewhat them when “interest is lost” the vote is recast with less hoopla! This method has been used successfully in the past!

VOTE NO or we replace you with someone who will vote NO! It’s that simple and it is the American way to prevent government intrusion into our lives.

Our forefathers would be proud! See ya there!

“Slippery slope” of taxing the poor and shifting costs to the middle is Bradley County wheel tax dilemma

Have you ever walked on ice? Have you ever walked on ice in dress shoes? You know the kind with no grip! Just pure leather and once it gets cold and hard it is almost impossible to stand! Now add a grade to that, attempt to stand at the top of the hill and maintain ground! Next to impossible! Right?

Well the Bradley County Commission has once again chosen to walk the slippery path instead of just simply putting their house in order! The slippery slope (Wheel tax exemptions) has been identified and it is going to be pretty much everyone that doesn’t have a job or is making under the poverty line for income, which leaves the
middle hardworking class to foot the bill!

What do I mean? Let me attempt to tell you! We are talking about the “wheel tax”, yes the same ole tax that failed a few years ago by referendum because the commission has once again chosen to put the debt on you the citizen they are supposed to protect and represent.

We are talking of tax exemptions to be exact, who is exempt from paying the wheel tax, that slippery slope, so to speak! The term used by no less than 3 commissioners and others on a few occasions. The decision to tax the poor and impoverished or tax the working class! It seems it always one or the other, not both! Pretty much the way Washington is sticking it to the working class! Either way, a new wheel tax leaves many unhappy!

Yes folks, the first vote of the commission was to tax the poor as well as the middle and the upper incomes! ” It’s a fair tax for everyone, it’s a bold move by the education committee” as Martin Ringstaff, Director of Cleveland City Schools, has been recorded as saying in past meetings.

“We have got to show the people why we need it!” , Chairman of the School Board Charlie Rose was overheard saying also.

The people, everyone, fair tax for all! That is the problem! It shows a disconnect from the people who represent us and the people who are doing the representing! With obviously no accounting for the impact a new tax has on the repressed and unfortunate in this City and County!

While researching the raw data, in this case, the US Census data, it is easy to distinguish who the poor are in Bradley County and who by County Commission vote who will end of footing the bulk of the new wheel tax! The middle class!

Here is my version of the “slippery slope !”

The data displayed below is easily confirmed by US Census data and can easily be googled for easy verification and I will even conveniently provide a few links below at the bottom of this blog.

In Bradley county we have a few more than 98,000 people in our community. The following is a breakdown of the demographic of that population according to the latest US Census data that will either be exempt or taxed heavily with a new wheel tax.

There are 23 percent that are under the age of 18 years old, of those 16 to 18 year olds probably make less than poverty level income. So, the first people attacked are the kids! Those in high school, struggling to get gas much less another 32 dollars for a wheel tax, granted a parent may go ahead and pay but the burden is still there.

14.1 percent are over the age of 65, again on fixed incomes and hating another tax bill.

16 percent in Bradley County live below the poverty level, many of which will be those with very little expendable income. 7,740 Veterans in this county! Many of which are disabled and below the poverty line or homeless.

8 percent of the county workforce are self employed, entrepreneurs or just laborers just getting by with occasional day to day work.

3.6 percent are illegal immigrants with no defineable income and no tax status whatsoever except when they consume. 1,407 live in college dorms and are probably struggling to make ends meet and have probably registered dads or moms car in another state anyway.

2 percent are either in nursing homes, in a local jail, or are in a group home or have been deemed mentally impaired.

If my math is correct this accumulates to about 60 percent of the population of Bradley County that are poor, repressed, at poverty level income, homeless or mentally incapable of making their own decisions! Roughly 60,000 people are affected and poor!

Initially, they are the ones being targeted for yet another tax. After much talk about who is exempt or not, some talk about who in the heck are we going to tax, it now appears the bullseye is hovering over the working class, the middle income earners who are trying to make their way and rely on hard work to support our families with minimal to no assistance from the government!

You may be saying not all of them drive! This tax doesnt affect them! At one point in the year all these mentioned will need a vehicle to either go to church, the grocery store, a group outing, leisure, vacation, a doctors appointment or simply a trip to the hospital and etc! They all rely on someone else for that transportation, in most cases close family or just do gooders wanting to contribute. Many of which are in the same boat as them. So fairly, it is safe to say they are all represented by a vehicle that is getting taxed!

There are 86,000 vehicle registered in Bradley County along with 3,000 motorcycles! With those numbers, you can say that roughly 70 to 80 percent of the people in Bradley County will be affected by this tax! Although many poor will be affected, in reality, most of the working class have two or more vehicles and will receive the yearly 64 to 160 dollar wheel tax bill! Most of the tax burden!

With the median home income rate of around 39,000 dollars you can see easily how another tax lifted and placed on you will further burden a “middle incomer” causing greater harm to you, while your government reaps the benefit of you punching the clock!

The Chattanoogan reported this morning and quoting Mayor Gary Davis, “the county wide wheel tax cannot happen the way it is currently written!” Mayor Davis went on to say “you want to give tax exemptions to low income elderly using the list from the trustees office, which doesn’t include them all! There are a lot of low income elderly that live in apartments, they are not property owners. I assume you want to give all low income elderly the same exemption, but it is not addressed that way in your resolution!”

Jeff Yarber referred again to that “slippery slope” again. He said, “This is that slippery slope that I was talking about. My thought processes on that was to not use the trustees list, but to use the process that the trustee has. The burden of proof falls on the individual!” Really? The burden must fall on the citizen to prove they are poor, in-firmed, repressed or homeless to be exempt from a wheel tax!

It was even suggested at one point to go ahead and tax the poor then on the backside the poor taxpayer will have to prove to the government that they are indeed poor and then they can get reimbursed! Really? This is taxation without representation! Have you ever tried to come up with 32 dollars when you don’t have it? Come on guys! Let’s get real!

Amy Moore, said “to gather names of low income elderly would require additional county staffing!” Here the door is being opened for yet another tax!

County Chairman Louie Alford added “Once you start down that slippery slope, it’s hard to get stopped!” The slippery slope started when you decided to tax the poor, the middle class in a very down economy! The slippery slope gets slicker when bureaucrats would rather tax the peasants than make the hard decisions needed to right our problem!

After last nights meeting this resolution was suggested it get referred back to the education committee then I am assuming will come back to the commission for a revised vote!

A side note! While back in the education committee I encourage you to look at why this problem of “no money” really exists in our school system! I believe if you look methodically at the problem you will find it!
Here indeed comes that slippery slope of taxing your poor in Bradley County! These folks are struggling to stay alive! To feed their 2.8 children or more is becoming a bigger and bigger chore!

My heart reaches out to these folks! They are truly in need! They need more in one day than I may need in one year! With that said, if we further exempt certain veterans, homeless, mentally challenged, poor, poverty level, illegals immigrants the burden shifts to the middle income! Me and most of you!

While compiling this data and defending the elderly and the poor I soon realized that the majority of this wheel tax will fall on the people who are broke on a different level after the numerous exemptions are made. A lose lose for all!

Many of whom after paying bills and taxes have very little in the form of spendable income! This my friends is a shift called social engineering, a tax shift to distribute income equally among the poor! Socialist call this redistribution of wealth or social justice! Many on the commission will fade away from this acknowledgement but this exactly what it is! Taking from those that have and distributing to those who have not!

Roughly 39 percent of the population in Bradley County make 100,000 down to poverty level! About 5 percent make 150,000 or more! The shift of all the taxes to this group greatly makes the burden heavier for the middle incomers and a little harder for them to provide for their own!

Don’t fool yourself to think a family income of 100,000 is alot! With college tuition rising, groceries and mortgages to include property taxes and other taxes, very little is left over once the bills have been paid!

Wealth distribution, socialism, takes from the “rich” and gives to the poor! This seems to be the expressed mantra of our elected leaders!

A tax is a tax! A slippery slope is a slippery slope no matter how you slice it! We are facing billions more in debt because of recent “growth plans” being proposed! This will not be the only tax in our near future!

This is merely a gateway tax, a tax that only opens the door for more taxes! This in my opinion is where the slope gets really slippery! Many hard working taxpayers and citizens start slipping down that “slippery slope” of poverty because of the government placing tax after tax on it’s wage earners! One tax may not tip the scale of a middle incomer into the poverty ranks, but one thing for sure is eventually the steady stream of new taxes will eventually tilt the scale and begin the fall of a hardworking citizen. Soon, that taxpayer is punch drunk and lying on their backs looking up to the government for a handout! This is true socialism Bradley Countians! Burden the free citizen till they slip and fall, while being forced to cry out to the ones who just cut both hands off, you have socialism perfected!

The schools are asking for a few new classrooms, a new school or two and past debt in the amount of around 30 million, the city will get their share of about 12 million to help build another school, my goodness will it ever stop!

We have a school board that allows students from surrounding counties and a few states to go to school here in Bradley County, why don’t we restrict the students to the schools they are zoned for and I bet we won’t have such a big problem! I would safely say hundreds of kids are in our system that don’t belong there!

My issue is this, it seems ok to absorb all these out of state and county students till you start asking the citizens to pay for another counties financial burden with more taxes!

City Councilman Bill Estes summed this whole situation up pretty well, he said ” A wheel tax is unbelieveably regressive and hurts the poor!” But he went on to advocate for a property tax.

County Commissioner Ed Elkins has said “people are saying they would rather have a property tax than a wheel tax!”

To all listening, the majority of Bradley Countians and Clevelanders are tired of paying more and more taxes! We are tax heavy! Great percentages of our income is taxed and Bradley County is not making it any easier on us to live here!

I challenge each and everyone of you to rethink any new taxes! We are in a down economy and most everyone is struggling! The debt that education is placing on it’s citizens cannot be carried much longer. A 60 plus million dollar education debt is enough! The debt burden on the horizon in the billions will only get larger as we shift costs to the massive growth plan already in the works!

Let’s simply ask the schools to look into why they are in such debt and spending unwisely! Let’s ask them why is it that no matter what amount of money we spend on our schools we get the same mediocre results? I believe the answer is easily out in the open if someone dare look!

Let’s get all our houses in order! We are out of control! It is time we get people in office to do the work that will not be done by the ones we have chosen to represent us! The time is right!

We must take steps to save our county, put our children’s future in sight and say any decisions must be well thought out and the first response should not be to raise taxes on the poor and not shift that cost to the middle class!

NO NEW TAXES, LESS GOVERNMENT, MORE FREEDOM!