Mayor Wamp likes to keep secrets.
Instead of the hard work required for collaboration, he prefers to keep vital information to himself, going to bed with a smirk on his face.
If there is one reoccurring theme to Wamp’s short tenure, it’s his reluctance to share information with the Hamilton County Commission. If it’s not the truth about the actual cost of his precious “Gateway Project”, which required a “full stop” from both the School Board and the County Commission , it’s shuffling the budget around to steal taxpayer dollars from the Chattanooga Urban League.
Head- honcho Jeff Eversole (and the hardest working man on the Commission) has pleaded with Mayor Wamp to be more transparent with the County Commission.
Time and time again, our Little Prince prefers to lurk in the shadows and keep secrets. Knowledge is power, and we can’t debate that he needs more knowledge.
His latest secret? The Old McDonald Farm, owned by the taxpayers, was being considered for a $3 BILLION pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
This was “breaking news” to the Hamilton County Commission. They had no idea, nor input, on the feasibility of creating 1,100 jobs on Old McDonald farm. Wasn’t that the purpose for spending $16 million taxpayer dollars buying McDonald farm?
We didn’t spend that money for “walking trails and picnic tables”. We bought it for the purpose of creating well-paying jobs, increased tax base and more money for schools.
Did I dream that we were told the Old McDonald Farm would be the VW-like manufacturing plant of Rhea County?
And it almost was.
Our county mayor passed. Instead of embracing the opportunity, he declined. After all, this was ex- Mayor Coppinger’s idea, why should he give him a prop?
Why did Weston not inform the Hamilton County Commission about this generational opportunity and ask them to weigh-in? Not only did he fail to include the County Commission, he took steps to hide his actions.
The County Commission should have been included in the decision to “shun” a $3 BILLION manufacturing plant.
After all, our schools are in financial crisis. We “cobble together” tax dollars every year, searching for other revenue sources. How about a generational opportunity to increase our tax base, not with crappy houses on small lots, but a clean-energy manufacturing facility that would create 1,100 well-paying jobs?
We deserve to be better informed about the future of Hamilton County. Let’s start talking.
Only little children keep secrets.
C. Mark Warren