It is shocking that our county mayor, The Little Prince, has not met one time with the Stadium developers, but instead chooses to hold fake “town halls” as a spectacle to criticize the project.
When the county mayor was called out by Commissioner Jeff Eversole for his lack of interest in the Southside Stadium project, our Little Prince pushed back. Our county mayor says that over 18 moths, he has met with the stadium developer a total of three times. Three?! And two of the meetings The Little Prince appeared via Zoom, from his favorite booth at Starbucks?
Commissioner Chip Baker, who ran Riverbend for 20 years during its heyday, found it “notable that, on a project of this magnitude, Wamp has met with the developers three times.”
If anyone on the County Commission knows the value of hard work on big projects, it is Chip Baker.
Every year for 20 years, Mr. Baker orchestrated Riverbend. It was hard work behind the scenes, without being seen, accomplishing big things.
The Little Prince prefers light duty, in front of the cameras, with a Power Point clicker in one hand and a latte in the other.
Let’s be clear: The Little Prince has had an ax to grind with the Lookouts ever since he was not hired to be “the face of the Lookouts.” Poor Little Prince.
Candidate for Mayor Wamp was against the stadium in the summer of 2022. Before any numbers were announced. Before the location was locked up. Before any of his passive-aggressive fake “town halls.”
It has been apparent from the beginning that The Little Prince’s hurt feelings have kept him from meeting with the stadium developers. His bruised ego has kept him from meeting with Mayor Kelly about the stadium. His childish behavior has clouded his judgment and put this generational undertaking at risk.
That’s what happens when an adolescent attempts to do work meant for adults. It’s past time for our Little Prince to grow up or get out of the way.
Commission Chair Jeff Eversole said the “stadium project is too important to be taken lightly.”
Too bad our county mayor continues to be on light duty.
C. Mark Warren
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Why is it every time something critical is said about Mayor Wamp it comes from C. Mark Warren or April Eidson? They do not represent the opinion of the general public and clearly have a personal axe to grind with the Wamp family.
Let's discuss the real story. The Lookouts Stadium project and the McDonald Farm project are wrapped up turds force fed to Mayor Wamp by the previous mayor and County Commission. Both were ill conceived economic development pipe dreams rushed through with huge unanswered questions. Mayor Wamp has seemingly tried to polish the turd with McDonald Farm as it is in its unaltered state a beautiful opportunity for recreation for the community. The stadium on the other hand continues to be forced upon Mayor Wamp and the community with little more clarity than the first iteration.
This week Commissioner Eversole announced a "Final Deal" with Mayor Kelly and the developers unbeknownst to the rest of the Commission or the county's chief executive. In the hours since the announcement Eversole has continued to walk back expectations. Seems like the deal wasn't so final after all. That's what happens when the representative of one district circumvents the will of the people by bypassing the official elected by the whole county to represent the whole county. Setting a voting date does nothing more than show your hand to the Lookouts that there will eventually be a deal. For someone so concerned with leverage, he gave a lot away with his actions.
A stadium deal may end up being a long-term payoff for Hamilton County. At a minimum it will probably pay for itself long term. But is it the best use of the property? There are hundreds of different economic drivers that could bring in similar or higher revenue. Was that analysis ever done? The prospect of industry at McDonald Farm is being analyzed by consultants through the county's area planning process. Why did the previous mayor or commission not do the same with the Lookouts stadium project? When will the public get access to a cost benefit analysis? Will it be before a public vote? If not, commissioners should delay the vote further, or vote no. Entering a 30-year mortgage requires due diligence on behalf of taxpayers, this project should too.
Jim Merklinger
Harrison
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What a hypocrite using Bible verses to advertise, while at the same time thoroughly bashing an elected official.
Oliver Heyer
LaFayette, Ga.
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Mr. Merklinger,
It is telling that you belittle and attack writers of opinion, rather than address the facts the writers present.
You cannot refute the facts, so you attack the opinion writers, and critics of the county mayor. Last time I checked, it is our government too, we may criticize.
So let’s talk about the facts.
The criticism abounds concerning the county mayor. This mayor has regular spats with the Hamilton County Commissioners. Is that wise - after all nothing can be accomplished without a favorable majority vote from the commissioners.
As I presented, Mayor Wamp is responsible for over $300,000 in wasteful spending on attorney fees, because the mayor failed to take a logical approach and allow the county attorney’s contract to time out. So $300,000 in taxpayer funds went down the drain because of Mayor Wamp’s failure to make logical decisions; instead he chooses emotional decisions that wasted $300,000.
To be clear, that was an avoidable waste of public tax dollars. You don’t think the public should complain? That is absurd, it is our money too.
It is also undisputed that Master Wamp had agreed to take employment with the Lookouts to ensure the new Lookouts stadium was built. When the Lookouts retracted their employment offer to Wamp, he began to write hit pieces complaining about a proposal to build a new Lookouts stadium.
The Lookouts management alleged that Wamp was unprofessional in a staff meeting.
The internal communications between the Lookouts and Wamp are published on Chattanoogan.com.
If supported facts bother you, that is your issue. I have been writing opinion to Chattanoogan for well over 22 years, and will continue to write opinion regardless of your shaming attempts intended to silence Mr. Warren and myself, and many others that oppose Wamp, such as the Urban League.
Have a blessed day.
April Eidson
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I hope I never have to hire an attorney due to being run over by a semi-truck. However, should I find it necessary to do so, the last one I would call is C. Mark Warren.
Why would anyone hire an attorneywho has such vitriolic opinions? It might be held against you in Court.
Ron Owens
Signal Mountain, Tn.
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Amen, Ron Owens.
Been saying that for a while now. I can’t watch TV nor read without that name plastered everywhere. The words “be kind” or “if you can’t say something nice….” are just lost on some.
The Prince, Master Wamp and all the other names Weston has been called in these opinion pieces are just ridiculous. He was voted into office, unlike those that have these opinions. Sometimes one’s ego is bigger than a semi and it shows not only on my TV but in print.
Tammie Clark