HJR 587- Anti Agenda 21/ICLEI resolution passes another hurdle, on to floor today

HJR 587 jumps another hurdle on it’s way to final approval! Another vote will take place today, awaiting results! I know State Representative Kevin Brooks has been all over this resolution as it has gained greater than 30 sponsors in a short amount of time!

The United Nations Agenda 21 is being recognized as the evil plan that it is! In Bradley County we have in less than a year gone from “you are out of your minds” to a resolution being passed in the State Legislature to get it and ICLEI out of our community!

The RNC has made this effort their number one concern for 2012 and have also endorsed legislation to get the UN out of TN and the country! They were even as bold as to say that if you do not make a stand against Agenda 21 they would not endorse you for office next election! That is a very bold statement and has gained and spurred many bills and pieces of legislation to be created!

Our Bradley County,Cleveland City Mayor, city and county planners along with consultants McBride Dale and Clarion, commissioners and councilmen need to realize that their efforts beyond this date are futile. State and RNC legislation should be followed! We are done with our expensive and expansive growth plan and all the “green” efforts that are being implemented without the peoples approval!

We are no longer alone in this process! We now have teeth and we are asking our local leaders to jump on the bandwagon and stop looking beyond the will of the people! Stubbornness and thoughts of that’s the way we have always done things are no longer the status quo! At this point, you are alone and acting as if their are no stop gap measures in place. Continued action is irresponsible and possibly illegal. We keep hoping they will do the right thing, but we will see!

Listen to the sweetness of this resolution below sponsored by State Representative Kevin Brooks! It really is music to my ears and sends a definitive message to the local press that mocked us for daring to make this an issue long before any one knew about it. I’ll reserve my judgement for another day! The following resolution was created by a State Representative that dared to step out and act while others were hiding under mommas skirt tale too scared to stand up with the will of the people!

An email from Kevin Brooks!

A good morning fellow patriots,

This morning HJR 587 passed Calendar & Rules and was placed
on the Regular House Floor Calendar for Thursday, March 15th.

I am very grateful for the support and co-sponsors of this HJR.

Please spread the word to contact your Legislators to vote YES
on HJR587 on Thursday morning, March 15, 2012.  

For Liberty!

Kevin D. Brooks
Assistant Majority Leader
State Representative Dist. 24
104 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
(615) 741-1350
(800) 449-8366 x11350        

HJR 587, by K. Brooks

A resolution relative to United Nations Agenda 21.
Whereas, the United Nations Agenda 21 is a COMPREHENSIVE PLAN of extreme environmentalism, social engineering and global political control that was initiated at the United Nations conference on Environmental and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 and

Whereas, the United Nations Agenda 21 in being covertly pushed into local communities throughout the United States of America through the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) through local “sustainable development”, polices such as Smart Growth, Wildlands Project, Resilient Cities, Regional Visioning Projects, and other “green or alternative” projects and

Whereas, the United nations Agenda 21 plan of radical so called “sustainable development” views the American way of life of private property ownership, single family homes, private car ownership and individual travel choices and privately owned farms all as destructive to the environment and

Whereas, according to the United nations Agenda 21 policy, social justice, is described as the right and opportunity of all people to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment which would be accomplished by socialist/communist redistribution of wealth, and

Whereas according to the United Nations Agenda 21 policy, national sovereignty is deemed a social injustice, now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the one hundred seventh general Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the Senate concurring that the general Assembly theat the General Assembly recognizes the destructive and insidious nature of United Nations Agenda 21 and hereby exposes to the public policy makers the dangerous intent of the plan.

Be it further resolved, that neither the United States government, nor any state or local government is legally bound by the United Nations Agenda 21 treaty in that it has never been endorsed by the United States Senate,

Be it further resolved, that the Federal government and State and Local governments across the country be well informed of the underlying harmful implications of implementation of United Nations Agenda 21 destructive strategies for “sustainable development” and we hereby endorse rejection of its radical policies and rejection of any grant monies attached to it.

Breathe in deeply Bradley County and the rest of Tennessee! We now have a representative that is willing to stand in the gap!

Next step, based on the recommendation of our own State Legislature let’s take our reps resolution and demand legally that the Regional, Comprehensive plan, the BCC 2035 Growth plan are dead in it’s tracks!

Let’s tell the consultants hired by ICLEI out of Chattanooga that are currently directing our local growth plan to go home! You are fired! We do not want you here no more! Your outdated, cookie cutter plan has already cost us too much money!

Mayors, commissioners, councilmen and the Chamber of Commerce you no longer legally have the right to keep implementing this Agenda 21 plan in our community!

We can develop our own growth plan! We do not need the United Nations, the Chamber of Commerce or a group of ICLEI led Consultants spending billions of our tax dollars on sustainable development and placing the burden on me, my grandchildren and beyond!

PUD Standards and regulations: The proof is in the PUDding for Bradley Countians

Corey Divel and company have suggested we implement PUD-Planned Unit Development Standards in Bradley County! I suggest we not do this! This is a very far reaching plan to further restrict your property rights and further regulate you into conformity of the big Green Monsters that enforce the many standards and regulations you will see below!

It was presented in an article recently as just a way to help us out, no big deal, just another program that Bradley County needs to bring us into the 21st Century! Hogwash! It is to make your life, your existence and way of life as restricted and regulated as can be!

Take a look at some of the construction, building codes and electrical regulations that will be placed on you! I have provided the links to a couple of other counties that have had this done to them!

We are quite successful doing our own thing in Bradley County. Why do we need this junk in our lives just to ultimately cost us more money and once again take a little more of our freedom away!

HomeConservationMulti-FamilyRequirements
Requirements for Each Measure

Attic Insulation

Existing attic insulation level must be R19 or less to be eligible. Final insulation level must be at least R38. In-progress and final inspections are required.

Wall Insulation

Existing wall insulation level must be R0 to be eligible. A minimum of R11 must be added. An in-progress inspection is required.

Floor Insulation

Existing insulation must be R11 or less to be eligible. Final insulation level is the maximum R-value the joist cavity can accommodate but not less than R19. A final inspection is required.

Windows and Sliding Glass Doors (SGD)

Existing single-pane windows with any type of frame and double-pane windows with metal frames are eligible. Existing windows and sliding glass doors (SGD) must be replaced with new units having a U-rating <= .30, SGD .31. A final inspection is required.

Electronic Thermostats

Electronic line voltage thermostats are eligible. All thermostats in unit must be replaced. Inspection may be required. Invoices or purchase receipts are required.

CFL Lighting Fixtures

ENERGY STAR rated light fixtures are eligible for the incentive. Please refer to the Energy Star website at http://www.energystar.gov for qualifying light fixtures. Receipts are required and inspections are optional.

Duct Insulation and Sealing

If interested in duct insulation and sealing, contact the PUD for eligibility requirements.

Heat Pumps

If interested in heating system upgrades, contact the PUD for eligibility requirements.

Installation and Inspection Requirements

All measures must be installed according to the most current version of Snohomish County PUD’s Installation Standards.

All material and/or equipment that is all or any part of a measure must meet or exceed all jurisdictional code, standards, minimums, maximums and requirements as stated in the appropriate PUD specifications.

On-site inspections are required for some measures (see chart). It is the responsibility of the installer to notify the PUD when the project is ready for an inspection. Once all specification requirements are met, incentives are paid to the installer except for self-installed measures.

More regulation requirements:Electrical

Click to access FacilityConnectionReq.pdf

Oh yeah! Those new electrical meters with the finance plan, what?
http://www.snopud.com/Construction/newmeters.ashx?p=1594

Don’t forget those lively smart meter water meters, you know the ones that “conserve” water!
http://www.snopud.com/home/watermain.ashx?p=1125

The required power generators! Duh, aren’t those expensive?
http://www.snopud.com/home/powerout.ashx?p=1120

Really? The green jobs via the Planet power program and all the federal grants that go with it!
http://www.snopud.com/home/green/planetpwr/ppfaq.ashx?p=1299

Electric cars, electric transit systems and little green men carrying globes on their backs!
http://www.snopud.com/home/green/planetpwr/projects09.ashx?p=1300

Solar panels,(about 200,000 dollars to solar customize your home) net metering, buy your electricity from a PUD? huh?

And those electric vehicles (EVs) with those home charging stations! What will those cost? Whew!
http://www.snopud.com/home/ev.ashx?p=1843

OMG! Look at these land use regulations in another state! No fencing, no spacing between buildings, the types of vegetation in your yard! Total control of your property!

Click to access ZO22.pdf

Farmers, farming? Replacing those farms with subdivisions? Say it ain’t so!

Click to access %7BD2026F05-B3DB-49C4-B407-775153D89522%7D.PDF

Regional planners considering PUD standards for the county
by DAVID DAVIS, Managing Editor 22 hrs ago | 206 views | 0  | 2  |  | 
Bradley County Regional Planning commissioners discussed the possibility of establishing Planned Unit Development standards in the county.

The purpose of a PUD is to provide flexible land use and design regulations and mixed uses and structures while the County Commission would retain absolute authority.

Planner Corey Divel said the only reason for establishing a PUD district would be for allowing for more flexibility, but he expressed reservation that a PUD could possibly be used to circumvent setback requirements.

The city has approved eight PUD developments, including Home Depot, Cleveland Towne Center and Spring Creek.

Planning Commission Chair Tony Young said the most likely places for a PUD in the county is along the Mouse Creek Corridor where sewer is available, which would make it subject to annexation by the city.

“Whatever is done is going to be very limited,” he said.

Based on the possibility of annexation, commissioners said they should base their standards on the city of Cleveland.

A subdivision that has been around since 2002 might finally be developed after going through plat revisions, bankruptcy and ownership changes.

Planning commissioners granted preliminary approval for Frontage Village on Elijah Way as a townhome subdivision owned by Ted Moss.

The 4.43-acre subdivision was first granted preliminary plat approval as Vista Village in April 2002. The 16-lot subdivision off Frontage Road again received preliminary plat approval in June 2004, subject to staff recommendations of a change in the road name. In February 2005, Bradley County commissioners approved changing the name from Vista Village Drive to Elijah Way. A month later, the subdivision was rezoned from Farm Agriculture Residential to R-2, low density single and multi-family residential.

The subdivision returned to the Planning Commission again in 2009 as a townhome subdivision with 28 units.

Commissioners also gave preliminary and final approval for Hidden Springs subdivision on Old Lower River Road located west of Interstate 75. The 4.77 acre subdivision, owned by Mitch Maloney, is laid out in seven lots for single family residences. The property is zoned FAR.

What is PUD? Planned Unit Development in Bradley County! Will regulate our socks off!

On the surface and in the local paper it seemed pretty benign. Oh lets see we have county planner Corey Divel announcing that he is going to introduce this little ole program called PUD (panned Unit Development Standards), yawn? Right? Wrong!

This is the only reason I started this news blog site! I am so tired of lazy reporting or should I say one sided, complicit reporting, if that is more fitting! You can just about count on every person in town that wants report something, yet leave the public uninformed intentionally, you can bet it will come from our local press!

I was glancing over the local paper yesterday and noticed the PUD story! At first I glance I lost interest pretty quickly! It was short, precise and perhaps intentional without alot of details! That should gave been my first clue to cue in but I didn’t! I put the paper away thinking I was done with it. The thought of PUD kept racing through my head! What is PUD? Sounds boring and non harmful!

Well, I went to my trusty search engine and put in PUD! Just PUD! I glanced over the PUD-Peptic Ulcer Disease websites and within one minute I was on to them! Like a prized coon dog picking up the scent. In this case, it was the Agenda 21, United Nations, and ICLEI scent! The dirty rascals almost slipped one by me and the uninformed public that they are supposed to be informing, well they went uninformed! After all they do accept payment for these stories, why not the complete truth?

PUD to me is more like a plethora of projects with many tentacles that as they unfold should scare you to death! Again,if we are unknowing when we accept these programs into our community and are clueless when they get here, you can count on Bradley County News to uncover them!

This beast is chocked full of every land, construction, electrical, water, zoning, annexation, eminent domain, lights, sewer, front yard, open space, agriculture, commercial, private and farm regulation you could possibly think of! ICLEI uses it to do what they want! The UN sits back and says aha another secret way to implement Agenda21!

I have started out slow with just a simple definition from Wikipedia and some of the history!

Tune in later to see what I have found! Some of these regulations and plans for Bradley County should make you shake in fear!

Search your self in the meantime! It costs nothing but a few minutes of your time! Read closely and think about the impact of some of those words and then think about the affect it will have on your county and your life!

Can’t wait till I put together the rest of this story! You will be blown away!

A planned unit development (PUD), is both a type of building development as well as a regulatory process. A PUD is a designed grouping of varied and compatible land uses, such as housing, recreation, commercial centers, and industrial parks, all within one contained development or subdivision.

History

The origins of PUDs in the new American communities can be traced to British movements during the 1950’s. The developments in Britain’s new communities dealt with the locations of industrial elements and how they were publicly dictated before building ever began in order to uphold an economic base. However, in America, privately controlled communities often had to attract industry after the residential sectors had been built and occupied.

The newest forms of the planned unit development in America were found shortly after World War II in the Levittowns and Park Forest as whole communities within the limits and orbits of large metropolitan centers. The first zoning evidence of PUD was created by Prince Georges County, Maryland in 1949. It “permit[ed] the development of a large tract of land as a complete neighborhood unit, having a range of dwelling types, the necessary local shopping facilities and off-street parking areas, parks, playgrounds, school sites, and other community facilities,” (Burchell 43). Alexandria, Virginia, in 1952, as an amendment to its city code, provided for a “Community Unit Plan” with the intent to provide for planned community facilities and open space development with new residential building. One of the first modern uses of the actual term planned unit development appeared in San Francisco’s ordinance in 1962.

Definitions

Planned unit development is a means of land regulation which promotes large scale, unified land development by means of mid-range, realistic programs in chase of physically curable, social and economic deficiencies in land and cityscapes. Where appropriate, this development control promotes:

A mixture of both land uses and dwelling types with at least one of the land uses being regional in nature
The clustering of residential land uses providing public and common open space
Increased administrative discretion to a local professional planning staff while setting aside present land use regulations and rigid plat approval processes
The enhancement of the bargaining process between the developer and government municipalities which in turn strengthens the municipality’s site plan review and control over development for potentially increased profits due to land efficiency, multiple land uses, and increased residential densities.
Frequently, PUDs take on a variety of forms ranging from small clusters of houses combined with open spaces to new and developing towns with thousands of residents and various land uses. However, the definition of a PUD does not take into consideration these types of developments unless they fit into a category of size ranging from 100 to 200 acres (40 to 81 ha). In a PUD the property owner owns the land the dwelling sits on. So they say!

Mixtures of land uses

In PUDs, the zoning of districts becomes very different from what was standard under the Standard Zoning Enabling Act. Historically, the districts were very narrow in type and large in area. Within PUDs, zoning becomes much more integrated with multiple land uses and districts being placed on adjacent land parcels.

Residential properties in PUDs are by far the most numerous and occupy the largest land areas. PUDs tend to incorporate single-family residential uses within close proximity to two-family units and multiple-family dwellings to form a larger diversified neighborhood concept. Schools, churches, retirement homes, hospitals, and recreation facilities begin to find their way into residential districts. Residential districts also tend to use the best land in the community and the most favorable sites are protected from commercial and industrial uses.

Grouping shopping districts by service area is a first step in returning to the neighborhood concept. Land is reserved for regional, community, and local shopping clusters with some specific restrictions based on market experience and on what types of business intend to locate at each development. Local shopping districts with sufficient provisions for off-street parking, height restrictions, and traffic control are not frequently found surrounded by residential areas.

Industrial standards now help to reduce the journey for employees to work. Nowadays, there tends to be environmental and performance regulations that cut back on the amount of nuisance to surrounding areas adjacent to industrial districts. With sufficient setbacks, off-street parking, and height regulations, industrial locations adjacent to residential zones are usually looked to as an overall community goal. PUDs do not normally have large numbers of industrial districts, but if so, they tend to be geared more towards light industry.

A planned residential unit development (PRUD) (sometimes planned unit residential development (PURD)) is a variant form of PUD where common areas are owned by the individual homeowners and not a home owners association or other entity. A PRUD is considered the same as a PUD for planning commission purposes and allows for flexibility in zoning and civic planning.

Design principles

Houses and placement of houses

Houses in PUDs often include access to a large shared open space surrounding the house as well as a smaller private yard. These large protected open spaces are created by the layout of the buildings and are intended for use by all residents of the developments. Different housing types (single-family, two-family, multiple-family) are often mixed rather than separated as is done in conventional development

Streets

Street patterns are one of the most important elements in establishing the neighborhood character of a residential community. Most non-PUD development focuses on obtaining maximum frontage for lot sizes and maximum flow of traffic on all streets. However, in order to dispel the monotony of the typical grid plan street pattern, PUDs often employ a hierarchy of street types based on usage. Local streets serve only residences and have a low traffic volume, while collector streets connect local streets to arterials, which are the major routes of travel throughout a PUD.

Sidewalks and pedestrian ways

Sidewalks and pedestrian ways of PUDs supplement and complement street systems in establishing the character of the neighborhood. Sidewalks are located on at least one side of every street to enable the walkability of the developments. Circulation systems are provided to link residential groupings, open space areas, schools, and local shopping areas.

Combining design features

It is in the ability to design each of these components simultaneously that makes PUDs unique and effective. Each of the elements work together to enhance the whole. This a major advantage over traditional zoning practices that force lots to be planned in accordance with broad rules that may allow for some incompatibility.

References:

Burchell, Robert. Planned Unit Development: New Communities American Style. New Jersey: MacCrellish & Quigley, 1972.
New York City Planning Commission. Planned Unit Development. New York: Planning Department, 1968.

Contributing source: Wikipedia

Obama to outlaw “corn sex” on the farm

Before you blow a fuse and get your blood pressure up for me using the word sex in a post, it really does have meaning and it has been around for years as a way for farmers to pollinate their corn crop, thus the word corn sex or detasseling a more politically correct name! Relax, farmers knew what I meant!

Yes, Obama feels again he needs to attack farms and the people who work on them! He is contemplating enforcing more stringent labor laws to prevent farmers from “overworking” the youngsters on the farm!

I have one sentence for Obama, “leave our farmers alone” they are the heart of our country and are very much needed to keep America fed!

Get off the farm and get out of the White House, you are frightening and your socialist ways are not a good fit for our country or our farms!

Washington Times-LANSING, Mich. — Sparking outrage across the country’s rural heartland, the Obama administration is proposing rules to curb the ability of children on farms to engage in “corn sex” for pay.

Farmers call it corn detasseling, a time-honored but physically demanding chore designed to promote cross-pollination in the field. For decades it has been a way for teens to earn extra spending money — and forge some good-natured field hand camaraderie — for a few weeks each summer.

The Obama administration is considering revisions to federal agricultural work rules that effectively would bar teens younger than 16 from engaging in a number of traditional chores for pay — including detasseling.

Opponents of the rules across the Farm Belt argue that they are in part an attack on a way of life, one foreign to Beltway bureaucrats and one that should be encouraged in an era of rising childhood obesity rates and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

“We need more young farmers in Oklahoma, not less. We need more young people who know where their food comes from, not less,” Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and state Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese said in a Nov. 30 letter to Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis.

“Any policy that would hinder the opportunities of young Americans to experience life in our agricultural communities is misguided indeed.”

The American Farm Bureau is heading a coalition of more than 70 agriculture organizations that have petitioned the Labor Department in Washington to reconsider what would be the first major rewrite of farm labor standards since the 1970s.

“We have no desire at all to have young teenagers working in jobs that are inappropriate or entail too much risk,” said Bob Stallman, president of the farm bureau.

“Farmers and ranchers are more interested than anyone else in assuring the safety of farming operations, and their right to operate their farms with family members is specifically permitted by Congress. We don’t want to see those rights infringed.”

Rule critics were bolstered last week by farm groups and detasseling companies gathering at state capitols to urge lawmakers to intervene with the Labor Department.

The department is reviewing those laws, which also would cover work with bulls, cows and other farm animals and farm machinery, at the urging of groups such as the Child Labor Coalition and the National Safety Council.

According to a Labor Department statement: “Children employed in agriculture are some of the most vulnerable workers in America. The fatality rate for young agricultural workers is four times greater than that of their peers employed in nonagricultural workplaces.”

The rules would not affect children working on their parents’ farms, but could affect minors who want to work for relatives or hire themselves out for temporary work during the summer. The Labor Department proposal would restrict the range of chores children could do for pay, including driving tractors, branding cattle, working above a certain height and herding livestock on horseback.

Corn detasseling companies that hire the youth work crews are among the most outspoken, saying that keeping teens out of the field and hiring adults, if they can find them, will cause labor costs to spike. Teens earn anywhere from minimum wage to $10 an hour for corn detasseling work in the fields and spend long days in heat and humidity during about a monthlong season.

“At first I thought it was a joke,” Iowa corn farmer Henry Hemminghaus recently said in an interview with KWQC-TV of the Quad Cities. “It would eliminate 40 [percent] to 70 percent of my workforce. It would probably eliminate about 1,200 out of the 2,000 kids I hire.”

The practice of detasseling earned negative publicity this summer when two 14-year-old Illinois girls were electrocuted after stepping into a puddle apparently charged from a nearby irrigation system while working corn crops that were leased by a private farmer to Monsanto Corp.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, and the girls’ families have filed a lawsuit.

The Labor Department is still evaluating the responses on the proposed rules. Coalitions of agriculture groups, including Nebraska farmers and ranchers, are joining some lawmakers in coming out strongly against the revisions.

“The proposed regulations demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of agriculture and the people whose livelihood stems from the industry,” the Nebraska coalition said in its letter.

Shelly Mayer, executive director of Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, said in an interview with the Omaha, Neb., World-Herald: “We have raised a generation of ‘bubble-wrap’ babies. Parents dote so much on kids, they practically need an oxygen mask to go outside. And we wonder why they can’t function in society.”

Editorials also are calling for federal authorities to rethink their approach to something they contend has been a safe tradition for years.

“Why should teen workers be denied the right to detassel when young teen football players will be sprinting and colliding at full speed in football practice in the same weather conditions?” argued an editorial published in the Lincoln, Neb., Journal Star newspaper.

“Surely it’s better for teens to be earning a paycheck detasseling in the great outdoors than staying at home on the couch playing video games.”

Cleveland Utilities to help buy Industrial Park by overcharging you!

The City of Cleveland has committed to 1 million, they are requesting the County to pitch in 3 million and Cleveland Utilities wants to chip in 2 million to assist the City with their 3 million to buy an Industrial Park at an inflated rate from a wealthy businessman who will benefit greatly. Cleveland Utilities chipping in 66% of the cost for the City, sound fishy to you, it does to me?

We live in a monarchy! Our future here in Bradley County is being dictated by a few that stand to have their pockets lined by their “good ole boy” participation! What has this County become? Are our utilities now in the business of city building. At what point do we say this sounds rediculous?

In return for the 2 million, Cleveland Utilities wants 25 acres in the park for a future operations center for its electrical division. Councilman Bill Estes says “I think the County is missing out and Cleveland will be missing out if we don’t develop this land as soon as possible to bring in even more revenue, its not in the County budget. It should be in there. Weve gone on record for 3 million and this is a wonderful overture by the utility board.”

He went on to say the Cleveland/Bradley Development Board, Economic Development Council, Cleveland Board of Public Utilities and Cleveland City Council are all on board with the industrial park.”

“ Where is the County? Where is the leadership in Bradley County to go forward with this project?” Estes further explained.
Let me tell you where the County is on this Mr Estes! The County is listening to the people they represent! The people should be the ones they listen to.

The endless spending as in Washington has got to be reigned in and and foot the bill for your careless spending. Not be high jacked by a few who stand to benefit who are influencing you and your little band of investors. That’s where the County is Mr Estes, and thank God for at least in the moment they have you floating downstream without a paddle and for the most part for years you and your clonies have had your way and have not had to answer to anyone. The gig is up, you are being summoned to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gary Farlow said he was “very pleased with the offer.” Further stating it “softens the impact of the City and the County.” Really Mr Farlow, do you realize what you just said. In case you didn’t, let me explain. You just said this donation of hard earned taxpayer dollars that is representative of inflated electrical bills has “softened the blow” for the City. My god did anyone else catch that?

The former Bob Zeige, ie: now Alan Jones Property is appraising at around 5 million dollars (was previously 6 million, but who is counting), the property was purchased for a fraction of that amount. Someone stands to profit a pretty penny from this endeavor and it aint the taxpayer, in fact the taxpayer is being overcharged on its electric bills and the profit to buy up land from private citizens for use by the local government, this is sooooo wrong on soooooo many levels!!!

Often times in Bradley County as we have noticed in the past, a privileged few with a lot of influence sets the tone for all decisions in Bradley County even at the expense of taxpayers and their wallets. No one seems to be watching after the taxpayer, you and me.

Why do we allow this type of behavior at our expense. How does a government look the other way when the collective of taxpayers are saying “NO MORE SPENDING!”

Where is the message missed when a few “power elite” in our town can get away with anything they want?

It seems most “deals”, “opportunities”, and “deal of a lifetime” are often made before an open public discussion is made and above the heads of its citizenry? Where is the justice? Where does it stop?

Lets get back to the unbelievable idea that Cleveland Utilities wants to purchase “prime real estate” for our local governments use. Is there not a conflict of interest in here somewhere? As far as I can tell many of the “big players” are either kin to each other or have a vested interest in the project! At one point does full disclosure come into factor?

Let me sum this offer up and you tell me if it sounds on the up and up!

We have Bob Zeige farm that was purchased by an individual at a “very good price”, this individual then decidedly and heavily marks this price up for sale to the City, which annexed the property a few months prior so it and the revenue would be brought into the city. Members of the City Council are close kin to the individual who purchased the property from Zeige.

The developers who were appointed by none other than the City Mayor who has strong ties to TACIR, (our ICLEI) a tyrranical NGO- Non Governmental Organization and Industrial Development Board who will politically and financially benefit from the purchase of this property, who are mostly developers, contractors and real estate agents.

The State elected officials who are also promoting this and are seemingly in the Mayors pocket for whatever reason, are bringing in the assorted funding for these characters.

We even have past un-electable politicians walking around throwing what little influence they have on bystanders who may feel they can benefit from this free for all.

We have a present member of City Council who used to be a heavy weight for Cleveland Utilities, who was just appointed to replace a deceased councilman, who is now Im sure driving the influence of his past and present position to influence Tom Wheeler, CEO of Cleveland Utilities, (Mr Grid Smart) to put up 2 million of taxpayer profit so they can buy 25 acres of the property for a future “prime spot” in the new Industrial Park.

Wheeeeeew! Sounds like an episode of “As the world turns.” Amazing, the audacity of our own elitists!!! Bradley County, our elected leaders are leading us into a certain demise. We have to wake up and make a stand for our town! The mistakes of DC is being repeated in Bradley County! The writing is on the wall!

Of further interest, the Growth plan calls for Cleveland Utilities to use their generous profit off of you to “help finance” the new growth through 2035. The City of Cleveland is going forward with the Growth plan leaving the County in a dust path because I feel the County is thinking this huge cost will only hurt us in the future with little return to the county.

The City, with its Tyrannical TACIR representative is dead set on moving forward with this terribly expensive venture come hades or high water to realize his own selfish desire to have a metropolitan type government. This seems very self serving if you ask me and awful unthoughtful to the taxpayer who will be asked to foot the bill to help him realize his “dream.”

Now does this seem like a government that is representative of the people and for the people? Absoultely not!

Our representation has long been forgotten and come election day these guys must be replaced and our city government refueled with an energetic cross section that has our best interest in mind……not their own best interests.

Cleveland Utilities assisting the City of Cleveland with purchasing “inflated” land from a vested individual with your hard earned money sounds awful suspicious and full of insider participation to me.

Im for the most part, not a complex person, but I can see the headlights on this southbound train.

Contributing source: Cleveland Daily Banner