The Daily Times

Dear Editor:

During December’s commission meeting, all commissioners, except Jim Folts, voted to spend $300,000 of local and state taxpayer monies to cover a 100-year-old concrete bridge in Townsend. Their reasoning varied from “It’s our heritage” to “It will bring in tourists.”

When a structure is saved for historical value, it’s rebuilt to its original state. This bridge never had a roof! Therefore, our taxes are being spent on a pet project with the hope of bringing in revenue.

Tourists traveling to see covered bridges expect old wooden structures to drive on and photograph. This one-lane reconstruction is for nothing other than the Greenway bicycle path, part of regional PlanET and Agenda 21. Shouldn’t the new Tourism Authority be covering this with hotel/motel taxes?

In the Jan. 2 Daily Times, the same commissioners who voted to foolishly spend money on this walking bridge were interviewed about the county deficit of $1⁄4 billion.

They had the audacity to make it sound like they’re conservative spenders. Commissioner Wright stated that they’ll have to “wrestle with budget issues like a bear.” Melton, Lail and Murrell said the schools may cause increased taxes and Samples stated that they’ll try to come up with a bare-bones budget. Worse yet, Commissioner French said he was unhappy with the citizens for voting against the sales tax referendum.

Commissioners often say that I’m speaking on behalf of only a handful of people when I dispute their tax-and-spend actions. Well, Mr. French, the majority of Blount County and I have agreed and, guess what, we’re unhappy with the commission!

When will they get the message? We’re not blind! Throw money around one month and talk budget control the next? The citizens gave these so-called fiscal-conservative Republicans (RINO’s) a mandate. We don’t want more taxes! We want cuts! We’re sick and tired of elected officials not representing the private-sector taxpayers in this county, period.

Linda King

3311 Laws Chapel Road

Maryville, TN 37803