My name is Andy Mullins and I’m speaking up for two reasons today.
#1 - I’m currently building a new home in the Morning Glory Farms subdivision, less than 3,000 feet from the proposed landfill.
#2 - I’m chairman of the Hamilton County Health & Safety Board. I am not here representing the Board but am here representing the people of District 9 whom I proudly serve and represent and thousands of other Hamilton County residents that have a say in this issue and have signed petitions, attended meetings, and voiced their concerns over this issue.
I, as others, can give you numerous reasons on the negative aspects of this potential approval of the landfill. So a couple of initial questions to you as a Commission.
Do you know exactly where this proposed site is?
Have you driven out to the area personally to see the negative impact that will occur?
Are you aware that the site property line is literally 47 feet from a residence and 58 feet from our main water source for MGF and neighborhoods?
Are you aware that the site property line is 4,100 feet from Morning Glory Lake which feeds topographically from this area directly downhill to the waterway?
Are you aware that the property line is exactly .98 miles from the Tennessee River and .94 miles from Harrison Bay State Park?
Twelve hundred pristine acres with 40 miles of Chickamauga Lake shoreline becoming the first state park in Tennessee in 1937 and named for the largest bay on the Tennessee River known from the old town of Harrison. The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is also one of the most highly recognized environmentally sensitive courses in the nation. It is certified by Audubon International for its conservation and habitat practices and also registered as the first Groundwater Guardian Green Site in Tennessee. The Groundwater Guardian Green Site program recognizes green spaces for their groundwater stewardship to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices related to chemical use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship.
I have done countless hours of research from EPA.gov, TDEC from TN.gov, federal, state, and our local Hamilton County Health Department websites. I have read story after story and court case after court case, many even making it to the Supreme Court of towns, cities, counties, and states making terrible decisions that showed up 10, 20, and 40 years later and now costing them millions and millions of dollars in remediation, clean-up costs, and lawsuits due to environmentally short-sighted decisions. Two major ones in Tennessee right now are Camden, Tn., and Decatur County, Tn.; two areas 60 miles apart with both already in the court system and both exceed $10-12 million in initial costs due to bad decisions made less than 20 years ago.
Rumor has it that the “behind the doors” decision has already been made and that you will rubber stamp this action next week with no serious consideration. So I ask you today for one of two decisions next week. #1 Totally vote down this potential boondoggle without question or #2 at the very least table it for a minimum of 120 days so each of you can investigate it personally, mandate a third-party environmental impact study by the firm as required by TDEC, and see the negative short and long range impact that your decision will make on the residents of Hamilton County in this area. I promise you that you will not want this negative decision haunting you for the rest of your personal and political life. Thank you for your time and attention.
Andy Mullins