The recent 6–5 vote in favor of Plan Hamilton is not just disappointing—it is a breach of public trust. Hundreds of residents called, emailed and showed up to voice opposition. Commissioner Shipley warned that Sale Creek schools are already at capacity, with Soddy-Daisy schools not far behind. Commissioner Highlander returned from just two days away to find 700 messages from constituents, every single one opposed to more density. Yet the majority of the commission pressed forward anyway.
The bigger issue is trust. Commissioner Helton admits he stopped building homes in the unincorporated county after joining the commission—yet refused to recuse himself on this vote. Stopping only until your own plan passes is not a sacrifice; it’s strategy. Commissioner Chauncey makes money from real estate. Commissioner Sharpe is now seeking his real estate license. These are not just appearances of conflict; they are conflicts in plain sight.
Developer Jason Farmer stood up and said he was proud to be an advocate for private property rights, claiming he and his industry are “not the enemy.” But let’s be clear: when your paycheck depends on cramming subdivisions into communities that lack the infrastructure to support them, you are not a neutral party—you are the problem. When residents are begging for schools, roads, and fire protection before more growth, and your answer is to push density anyway, that is greed in action.
I’m proud of the five commissioners who voted against this plan. If three others had recused themselves, as they should have, we could have moved forward in a way that reflected the will of the people.
Commissioners are supposed to represent the people who elected them, not the industries that stand to profit from looser rules. The residents of Hamilton County deserve better than a plan pushed through by those with financial stakes in the outcome.
It’s time for leadership that prioritizes infrastructure, schools and public safety over special interests. Anything less is a disservice to the people you were elected to serve.
Jason Kirk
Unincorporated Bakewell, Tn.
* * *
I agree 100 percent with the thoughts conveyed by the author of the recent opinion piece titled " A Breach of Public Trust". Last Wednesday's Hamilton County Commission meeting was a huge disappointment for residents of unincorporated Hamilton County seeking protection from the predatory development that is taking place in their communities currently.
The Commission room was packed with residents attending the meeting to request a NO vote to Resolution 825-18. Despite all the public outcry, 6 commissioners voted YES; 3 of these commissioners make a living selling or building homes. They can personally benefit from the passage of this Resolution. They all stated that their personal interests would never interfere with how they vote; they refused to abstain when asked to do so by several residents.
A commissioner's job is to represent the people. On Wednesday the will of the people was ignored, voices were silenced and democracy died.
Cathy Faulkner
Harrison