September 25, 2008 - Response to TVA Management Plan

Tennessee Valley Authority
Mountain Reservoirs Land
Management Plan

Chatuge Reservoir

Towns County, Georgia

Comments & Recommendations
by
The Towns County Homeowners Association (TCHA)


September 25, 2008




General Comments

The Towns County Homeowners Association (TCHA) represents a wide spectrum of citizens who are homeowners in Towns County, Georgia. Many are property owners adjacent to Lake Chatuge. This lake is the body, heart and soul of Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina. All of us know the water quality continues to deteriorate each year. Run-off water around the lake is one issue in this deterioration. TCHA has encouraged local officials to adopt the recent recommendations from the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition Report to improve water quality and the county is doing so.



Shoreline erosion continues to increase, without official efforts to prevent it as we see a significant increase in the number of boats and PWCs and including larger and more powerful boats. The resultant wave action is increasing shoreline erosion at an alarming rate. One member has lost 18 inches of depth 128 feet out from the 1926 foot elevation line due to lack of sedimentation control. This property owner also states that he was losing 6 to 9 inches of bank at the shoreline each year. He obtained a permit and rip rapped his bank eliminating the problem. However, there are hundreds of banks without erosion control. Lake Chatuge is not large enough nor strong enough to accommodate this increase in size and number of watercraft. One can witness a 36 to 42 inch wake behind these boats. It is not unusual to see these boats perform “doughnuts” that produce up to 48 inch wakes. The shore line becomes extremely muddy extending up to 300 feet off the shore.



In addition, some property owners are making beaches near the 1926 elevation line by hauling in tons of sand each year, a clear violation of TVA regulations. Yet nothing is being done to prevent these violations. TCHA has members who have complained to TVA and TVA’s response has been that “it is the county’s responsibility to enforce sedimentation issues.” One member states that “he has seen at least 2 loads of sand, 5 tons each, dumped below the 1933 elevation line in one year.” Most of this loose sand will wash into the lake within a year. The problem is that all this sand along with other sedimentation is rapidly displacing water, not a desirable feature of properly managing a lake. It is highly unlikely that you will find these examples of management in the Private Investor Owned Electric Utility Industry where the utilities have a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders, customers and State Public Utility Commissions. It is time for TVA to take control and properly manage its assets.



In addition, many renters of pontoon boats and personal watercraft often have never operated either and have no safety training. They have no respect for or knowledge of the 100 ft no-wake law in Georgia nor of other water safety and courtesy rules. Commercial enterprises that lease boats and PWCs should be required to review applicable boating regulations with renters before they take possession of the boat or PWC. Special emphasis should be given to the 100 ft. no-wake zone near docks and anchored boats. In turn, the renters should be required to carry with them a certificate certifying the receipt of this required safety and operating procedures briefing.



Property owners report that the wakes are so bad at times that you simply cannot stand up or walk safely on their docks. The water quickly becomes extremely muddy and unusable. Boat traffic should be restricted to the center portion of all the narrow creeks and coves with reduced speeds and these should be marked as such.



Two of our members report that they spent over $500.00 to purchase US Coast Guard approved “NO WAKE” and “SWIM AREA” buoys and properly secured and installed them. The NO WAKE buoy actually helped keep water traffic away from their boat docks. After two years the Georgia Department of Natural Resources made them remove the NO WAKE buoy because “they didn’t have the resources to enforce the NO WAKE Law except at bridges”. This is a poor excuse to property owners who volunteer to utilize their own resources to assist in the enforcement of laws that improve safety and reduce some sedimentation from shore line erosion! And we have other examples of dock owners placing ‘No Wake” signs on their docks and having them also be effective. But that should really not be our job.



TCHA has members who live near parcel 13, a Towns County Camp Ground, where previous inspections revealed both safety and environmental violations. Boats were moored above the shore line; a few on-the-road pieces of camping equipment did not even have state license plates clearly showing they were being parked year-around. Sewage disposal was disastrous. Carpet was rolled out on the bank to the water line to provide clean water access that created an unsightly and undesirable condition which should not have been over looked by TVA and Towns County. This was a deplorable condition that property owners around the lake should not have been exposed to. Camp ground neighbors have also been exposed to drug trafficking conditions. These issues will be addressed below.

TCHA General Recommendations for Parcel Development

1. Further commercial or any industrial development on TVA land should not be permitted. This includes the proposed BRMEMC substation. Recreational uses should be carefully considered and only allowed where they will not infringe on existing properties.


2. Permission for the installation of additional boat launching ramps should be withdrawn at least until effective traffic control on the lake can be established and proven to be working.



3. A major and immediate effort should be initiated by TVA in conjunction with local law enforcement and the DNR to establish traffic and procedural control over watercraft use on the lake. Police patrols with enough staff to effectively cover the entire lake should be present on all weekends and holidays and periodically during the warm weather weeks of high use.


4. The TVA should institute a program of low speed-no wake zones in the narrow coves and creeks of the lake.


5. The TVA should make enforcement of the 100 foot no wake zone near docks and anchored boats a priority.


6. The TVA should ban the dumping of sand on beach areas and encourage private parties who wish to dredge their beach fronts to do so with proper water management practices,


7. The TVA should conduct a lake wide study of shoreline erosion to identify all those areas where water disturbance is causing significant problems and to mark those areas as No Wake zones.


8. The TVA is encouraged to continue its support of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition and to recognize how these suggestions support the corrective actions suggested in the HRWC report of 2007.


9. The TVA should require that all renters of watercraft on Lake Chatuge provide their customers with a safety and courtesy briefing and with certification that this briefing has been received.


10. The TVA, in conjunction with the Towns County management, should clean up the Chatuge Woods campground and either place it under new management such as the Georgia Mountain Fair, or close it.

TCHA Specific Recommendations

Re parcel 10


This concerns the industrialization of the shoreline of Lake Chatuge. The Towns County Homeowners Association and many of the citizens of the County are strongly opposed to such use anywhere on this lake. Yet we find that not only is Parcel 52 being proposed for an electrical substation (which we have dealt with in our comment of August 27 and below) but also Parcel 10 has been proposed for reclassification as Industrial based upon a flimsily supported (and ultimately withdrawn) request against which TVA has taken the position that, if this proposed use does not come to pass, TVA will simply reclassify the parcel to Zone 5 and wait until someone does come along to buy it.



The TCHA is firmly opposed to this approach and requests that the proposed change be denied and the classification of Parcel 10 be retained as Zone 4 – Natural Resource Conservation. In the following we will critique your DEIS and present the rationale for our position.



Parcel 10 is the last major undeveloped parcel on Wood Creek west of the TVA power lines. The south side of the creek and the balance of the north side are developed as single family residential. The church at the end of the creek is the ONLY non-residential use. We note that in your Policy Governing the Disposal of Real Property you state that …

“As stewards of this critically important resource, TVA has a responsibility to manage its lands wisely for present and future generations.” Placing an industrial use in the middle of an existing residential use is not wise. In fact it is a classic example of poor land management, something TVA eschews. The proposal should have been rejected summarily.



The genesis of the request should be examined. But that effort has been rendered moot by the withdrawal by BRMEMC of their request and the rescinding of his support by NC Senator John Snow. Thus TVA no longer has a basis for further consideration of such change and should immediately drop its consideration from the Management Plan process. To further consider it would be a gross abuse of TVA’s land management responsibility.



We could stop here but, since the Resource Management Team intends to keep the option open for another potential client, we will continue to present our detailed critique of the rationale for the Parcel 10 change as presented in your Draft EIS 2008-1.



1. There is no requirement for a new industrial park, either in Clay County or Towns County. Both counties have existing parks which are substantially underused. Clay County has only one building in their park and the joint Towns/Clay County Park has a total of 11 buildings only half of which are occupied. In addition, this park is currently using roughly 30% of its available land space. Also in Towns County, the old Mohawk plant south of Hiawassee has been empty for over two years despite the owner’s efforts to find another tenant. In conclusion, the two counties have more than enough space to last for years and display no evidence of needing more land.


2. Parcel 10 is not contiguous to the existing park, In fact it is over one half mile away from it with some 60 residences and half a dozen businesses located between the two. Arguing that the two support each other is fallacious. Trying to connect the two would likely require the use of eminent domain procedures which, as we all know, would involve a protracted legal fight.


3. If there were to arise a use in the existing park requiring water from the lake, there is a much shorter route available by running the lines down Hwy 515 and into the upper end of Wood Creek. This assumes the water quantity desired could be supported by the lake and the return would not harm the already poor water quality.


4. Paragraph 3.2.1.2 states under Alternative C changing Parcel 10 from Zone 4 to Zone 5 would “…(change) the character of the existing residential neighborhoods in the area” and that the loss ‘… would be minor in the context of the large amount of TVA land … on the reservoir…”. We beg to differ! The impact on the Wood Creek neighborhoods will be SEVERE and washing that out by including the rest of the lake area is disingenuous at best. TVA uses this approach throughout the DEIS and it is wrong. TVA must consider the local impact and that is the only impact the counts!


5. The DEIS says that “… the change in Parcel 10 would cause destruction of old growth forest”. This area is very densely forested, contains some 100-year-old trees and would be largely clear-cut by any developer. Again the impact on the Wood Creek area will be severe.


6. The DEIS says, “Change of Parcel 10 would have negative effects on wildlife.”

This area has lots of wildlife. Deer are seen there all the time. Bear have been sighted and bald eagles nest in the area. The area is known to be inhabited by Indiana bats, a protected species which helps keep mosquitoes very low. The protected impact on wild life has not been documented but, clearly, if the area is industrialized, the impact will be severe as it will be denied to them. This impact cannot be minimized by spreading the impact lake wide. It is severe on Wood Creek.



7. The DEIS says, “Development of the Parcel may adversely affect archaeological resources,” This has not been researched as to what the affect would be to Parcel 10.


8. The DEIS says “Potential effects to historical structures may come from development of Chatuge Parcel 10” There is no data here either as to what the effect to Parcel 10 might be.


9. The DEIS says there will be “…minor visual impact to visual resources. Scenic integrity would remain moderate or higher.” To the people who enjoy this lake and the homeowners in Woods Creek area, this could not be farther from the truth. Changing the use from Natural Resource Conservation to Industrial development is a monumental change. From looking out across the water and seeing dense forest and wildlife to watching the manufacturing operations of a plant is not a minimal impact and trying to wash it by referring to the entire reservoir is simply wrong.


10. The DEIS says there will be “ …insignificant cumulative impact to water quality and aquatic ecology”. How do we know the effect when there is no information on the type of plant that would be constructed in Parcel 10? How much of our valuable water will be pulled from the lake? How will they dispose of wastewater? What if the plant were to be a cement plant? We have no idea and we don’t want to inflict this fight on future generations by TVA taking the position that they will deal with such issues at the time. We want them taken care of now, in this discourse, and put to bed.


11. The DEIS says that there is “…greater potential of air impacts from industrial development…”. Wood Creek does not need that. It is a residential area.


12. The DEIS says that there will be “…a greater potential for noise impacts from industrial development…” This is a given and it has no place in a residential neighborhood. Depending upon how great, it could have a significant impact on existing property values and consequent property tax revenues for the county government. We wonder whether TVA wishes to expose itself to further complaints and other remedial actions from the impacted owners and county officials?


13. The DEIS touts the “…potential for new jobs from industrial development” As stated above, there are countless industrial opportunities for job development with manufacturing in the existing industrial parks. Neither Towns nor Clay Counties need any more unused industrial designated property, particularly any which is improperly situated within a totally residential area.


14. The DEIS says that “…allocating Parcel 10 to Industrial would decrease opportunities for recreation use of area 10”. One can only say that this is a brilliant conclusion and representative of the substandard thinking behind this entire proposal.


15. The DEIS informs us that your land planning expert predicts that this area could support 350,000 ft. sq. under roof. This implies another 250,000 ft. sq. for paved roads, parking and outdoor storage. The result is 2/3rds of the available acreage being converted to impervious surface which will create a serious runoff problem for Wood Creek and the lake itself at a time when we, including the TVA are trying to preserve the lake from runoff in order to improve the water quality. It would seem the TVA suffers from some inconsistency within its own operation.



In the public meeting held by TVA in Blairsville, GA, your staff claims that, even though the requested use has been withdrawn, the subject has to be kept open because someone else could come in at this late date with a similar use which TVA would then have to consider. In fact, one of your staff there, in the face of all the above arguments, continued to lobby for the change to the point of absurdity. Why, when public comment is cut off after 29 September, would another private request be given the favor of consideration? If such a proposal shows up, will the public be given an extension for comment on that use? Is TVA determined to make this change in the face of the strong public opposition and your own absence of justification and/or rationale? We understand that the TVA Economic Group is making such an argument. Someone needs to make them listen. In another way of putting it, Are the books cooked? We would certainly hope not.



TVA’s own documents say “that land committed to a specific use would be allocated to that current use unless there is an overriding need to change the use.” There is not an overriding need, indeed no need at all, to change the use of this land to Industrial. It should and must be left in the present Zone 4, Natural Resource Conservation classification.



TVA’s documents also say that, “The land use allocations will be determined with consideration of the social, economic and environmental conditions around the region”. It would appear that the DEIS has indeed given these conditions consideration and then ignored the results.



TVA’s Documents also say that “TVA shall continue to develop reservoir land management plans for its reservoir properties with substantial public input and with approval of the TVA Board of Directors.” We and others have provided “substantial” public input but no thanks to your public notice procedures. We discussed the ‘public notice efforts with your staff at the 27 August meeting pointing out that more than half of the public at that meeting received no notice whatsoever from TVA but rather from word of mouth from the few who did. If TVA is going to have public meetings, your staff needs to get the word out to the PUBLIC. A review and expansion of your notice procedure is sorely needed.



And also that…“TVA shall consider disposing of reservoir lands or land rights for industrial purposes or other businesses if the TVA property is located in an existing industrial park, (this is not the case here) or is designated for such purposes in a current resource land management plan verified suitable for such use by RSO&E and ED staff in a property survey” (such designation in the current review does not pass the litmus test of scrutiny).



In summary, The TCHA and many other citizens of Towns and Clay Counties have all made their strong opposition to this unsupported proposal known. We all suggest that TVA be a good steward of the land as your own procedures suggest and retain Parcel 10 in the Zone 4 classification.


Re Parcel 13

The Chatuge Woods Campground has been a source of concern to the TCHA since 2005. The study which was forwarded to you on 27 August which was conducted for us by 2 members, one of whom is both a practicing engineer and a former Georgia County Commissioner and the other an oil company engineer and geologist was previously forwarded to both the TVA and the Towns County Commissioner’s office in 2005. TVA took no action and the County did little. The concerns still exist and the TVA should take action to bring the condition and performance of the Campground into compliance with your lease. (See comments on Parcel 77).



Re Parcel 52


The Board and members of the Towns County Homeowners Association strongly urge TVA to reject the proposal to sell part of Parcel 52 on Lake Chatuge to the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for the purpose of building a power substation on TVA lakefront property adjacent to Hwy 76 in Towns County, Georgia.



The TVA’s land use policy, as featured on the TVA website, offers some of the best reasons to vote against this proposal:



“As stewards of this critically important resource, TVA has a responsibility to manage its lands wisely for present and future generations.”

1. The construction of a power substation on this non-renewable lakefront site would forever change the land and is neither a wise choice for the present nor for the future. The EMC acknowledges several other potential sites for the power station that are off the lake and would not, therefore, have an impact on this beautiful resource.
2. Parcel 52 sits almost entirely below the 1933 flood line where TVA guidelines prohibit the construction of permanent structures. This power substation is a very unattractive, large permanent structure which, absent filling, when completed would be below the 1933 line.
3. It is our understanding that filling to raise the land level above the 1933 line is also against TVA policy. This project would thus violate TVA’s own rules and policy and as such, is neither responsible nor wise. TVA routinely enforces this policy with private property owners and, as a matter of equity, a commercial enterprise should be treated no differently.

“TVA shall continue to develop reservoir land management plans for its reservoir properties with substantial public input and with approval of the TVA Board of Directors. The land use allocations will be determined with consideration of the social, economic and environmental conditions around the region.”

• This issue has not had public input from this community. In fact, Towns County Commissioner Bill Kendall has requested the TVA hold a public hearing on this issue. This should be conducted as a hearing and not in the open house format. Concerned citizens should be allowed both verbal and written inputs for the record.
• The construction of a power substation on this lakefront property will have a negative and lasting impact on the:

1. Social conditions – Lake Chatuge is the heart of this area and as such, it attracts residents and tourists to its shores; the GA Mountain Fair, 4th of July fireworks and boat parade, in addition to countless family gatherings are paramount to the area’s heritage and charm. A lakefront power substation would have a negative impact on the social conditions of the lake and region.
2. Economic conditions – Lake Chatuge and its surrounding mountains are the catalyst for tourism, residential growth and resulting business development enhancing the Towns County tax base as well as making the area more attractive as a fulltime relocation destination. A lakefront power substation would have a negative impact on the economic conditions of the lake and region.
3. Local conditions – Placing the structure on the 2 acres immediately adjacent to the Palmer store and trailer park will adversely impact the store and likely put the trailer park out of business. The further proposal to turn the rest of the property into a park makes no sense because children and games and partying do not mix with a large electrical facility. A lakefront power substation will destroy or severely impact the existing businesses all of whom oppose this proposal.

“TVA shall consider disposing of reservoir lands or land rights for industrial purposes or other businesses if the TVA property is located in an existing industrial park, or is designated for such purposes in a current resource land management plan verified suitable for such use by RSO&E and ED staff in a property survey.”

1. Parcel 52 is not in an industrial area. In fact, according to the Mountain Reservoirs Land Management Plan Recommended Pre-Allocation – Recreation Parcels, Parcel 52 is designated “open space providing visual benefits in a commercial area.” On the Chatuge Reservoir Land Management Plan Map, Parcel 52 is designated “open space suitable for future developed recreation” and it is colored red - Zone 6 - “Developed Recreation.”
2. Parcel 52 is adjacent to a site now being used as a campsite and marina for approximately 40 homes and 30 boat slips. This tract of land is directly across the lake from Beech Cove Vista, Lake Chatuge Heights and Sunny Side Shores, residential neighborhoods in existence since the early 1970s. In addition, this tract of lakefront land sits directly below and within the view of many residences built on the mountainside. All of these residents built or purchased their homes at a premium because of the lakefront or lake view; not for a power substation view. Parcel 52 is also directly on Highway 76, a main route used by residents as well as visitors to Towns County, Hiawassee, Helen, Lake Burton, Clayton and other north Georgia destinations. Construction of a power substation on this land will have a dramatic and negative impact on countless property values in the region.

“The TVA Board recognizes that property with water access, for either navigation or water supply, is a limited resource in the Valley and has preference for businesses that require water access.”

1. Property with water access is limited and valuable. Joe Satterfield, EVP of the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC has stated that the power station does not need water access. We understand and support the need for additional power sources for the BRMEMC to accommodate growth. However, we believe that using lakefront property, designated by TVA as “recreational”, for a power substation is an inappropriate use of such limited and valuable land.

We strongly, repeat strongly, encourage the TVA to eliminate the lakefront site on Highway 76, known as Parcel 52, from consideration for this project and to retain the Recreational Use classification for it. TCHA has pledged to work with the BRMEMC to identify alternative sites. To date several have been located. However, BRMEMC has been reluctant to vigorously pursue these options, preferring to hope that TVA will grant their request and citing the potential increased cost thereof. But the lowest cost for BRMEMC is not always the best value for either Towns County or BRMEMC. For years people in this county and, indeed the County itself, have always chosen the lowest cost approach. Decades ago the Federal Government recognized that lowest cost was not always the right answer and developed the ‘Best Value’ approach to buying product. This lesson should be applied here and county issues taken into consideration.



BRMEMC worries about moving further south on US 76 costing an additional $800k per mile. But while they await the largess of TVA they have not done the trade studies that will show there to be gains as well as costs from such a move. For if it costs $800k per mile for the added high power transmission lines it also costs less for the service lines because the substation would be closer to its customers. The net cost will not be zero, but it will certainly be less than the advertised $800k.



Looking at it a different way, and using BRMEMC’s numbers, $800k divided by 46,000 meters divided by 360 months (30 year amortization) equates to 4.8 cents per month plus interest. The customers will never notice the difference especially while swallowing TVA’s recent 20% rate increase, and the County will be better served by a less prominent location.



Further, we have and continue to encourage the TVA to respond positively to the Towns County Commissioner’s desire that this property be leased to the county for development of a much needed and long sought after soccer field for the county children. This use can be undertaken within the ‘Developed Recreation’ category and can be put in place without altering the shoreline or its attendant vegetation. It is also compatible with the fact that the property is below the 1933 line which the substation is not. Alternative requests for this parcel have been submitted by both the City of Hiawassee and Towns County. The City’s request is for a park and boat ramp. The parcel is outside then present city limits and would have to be annexed . In the event the County’s request is not determined to be a suitable alternative, we suggest retaining and confirming the status quo.



NB. We have recent information that TVA management is looking for a way to avoid the public hearing they promised several of our members, Commissioner Kendall and Senator Isakson they would hold in the event they decide to press ahead with further consideration of the BRMEMC proposal. This represents an unconsciable breach of trust with the citizens of Towns County and the tax and rate payers who support TVA. This mistake must not be allowed to happen.





Re Parcel 77



The Towns County Homeowners Association endorses the request of the County that Parcel 77 be leased to it with the Developed Recreation designation but we do so with significant reservations and some pre conditions. If these are not in substance met, we do not support any change in the present classification.



Towns County has been looking for a place to develop a youth sports facility for years. The County needs one for its growing youth population but has been unable to locate suitable property. Further, with the prices of land in Towns County at an all-time high, purchasing sufficient land to establish such a facility is not within the budgetary reach of the county government. If such land were to be bought on the open market, it would place a large burden on the county taxpayers. The possibility of leasing the TVA Parcel 77 presents an unique opportunity for the County and its citizens.



On the other hand, there are many in the county who argue forcefully that this property should be left in its present category with expanded use discouraged. Some of these are our members which presents our Board with a dilemma.



Towns County has a mixed record in their operation of public facilities. On the one hand, the new county beach has been well put together and is well run. On the other hand, the Chatuge Woods Campground has never been run well and is literally not open to the public because of ‘squatters’ who permanently take up the spaces. The TCHA in 2005 called attention to the many discrepancies in the operation of the Campground both to TVA and to the County. The response to this call on the part of the TVA was minimal and that of the County not much more. This raises questions as to whether the County can or will learn from its mistakes and, first, remedy them, and then apply the lessons learned to a new growth project.



Therefore, the TCHA proposes to both TVA and Towns County a three step process whereby the county will earn the right to its requested lease and the citizens will be assured of their opportunity to review the county proposals with their ability to critique and assist in the creation of a mutually agreeable project with costs that we all can afford.



First, before considering leasing additional property to the county for another park, TVA and the County must get together and remedy the CWCG (Parcel 13) situation. A review prepared in 2005 by TCHA members with engineering and environmental backgrounds together with a remedial action plan was presented to TVA again in our 27 August response to this comment period. These reports can be used as a starting point. TCHA stands ready to assist both parties in planning, developing and executing this effort. Removing the stigma of the CWCG will go a long way towards removing the concerns that Towns County cannot properly manage its public facilities.



Once the Chatuge Woods situation is restored but before any lease to the County is consummated or change to the Parcel 77 designation finalized, the County should be required to draw up a detailed design for the planned use of the property and vet that design with a public hearing in a manner similar to that used by TVA. This plan should include a 100-foot buffer composed of the existing natural vegetation on ALL sides of the property, a layout which identifies all the facilities, ball fields etc. planned for the parcel, parking requirements and traffic patterns, lighting requirements and use rules, operating procedures including open/close times, night use limitations and security plans including a monitored electronic security system and in place county ordinances providing penalties for the violation of the use/prohibited use rules with the management structure and personnel identified. It must also include an Environmental Impact Study and significant involvement of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition to insure that any development of the parcel will adequately protect the water quality in the lake.



Thirdly, the TVA must require that the county present them and the citizens of the county with a development schedule and funding plan including identified sources of such funding.



Finally, after vetting these plans with the public and considering and incorporating their responses, if TVA and the County can conclude an agreement which generally satisfies the public, the County’s request should be granted. If these or a set of similar conditions cannot be met, the request should be denied and Parcel 77 left in the present classification.



These activities should be required to be completed within not less than 12 or more than 18 months.



The above requirements for the TCHA endorsement are perhaps unusual and certainly strict. However the opinion of our membership on this proposal is clearly mixed although slightly in favor of the County’s request. The Board feels that it is time the citizens of the County put some real thought behind developments in the County in order to balance the preservation of the beauty and culture of the area with public needs. We cannot continue to blandly endorse every requested development without consideration of its impact and its positive and/or negative attributes. Needs can be met but they must be met with forethought, common sense and consideration for the impacted citizens and areas. It is for these same reasons that we are also opposed to the substation sale on Parcel 52.



The TCHA is greatly concerned about the well being of our lake and the continued under managed development of our county. The Board and our members have put much serious consideration and effort into the responses contained above. We hope that TVA will not take them lightly and pay close attention to them.





THE BOARD AND OFFICERS OF THE TOWNS COUNTY HOMEOWNERS ASSO.


Charley Kraus , President
Wesley Lerdon, Vice President
Joan Cruthers, Secretary
Jack Miller, Treasurer
Mike Brock, Director
Bob Crawford, Director
Lindey Fitzpatrick, Director
Bob Keys, Director

And Our Membership