Evidently, the "just say NO" message has gotten through to several City Council members. In the span of just a few minutes in tonight's meeting, they rejected a rezoning that would have allowed a Pilot gas station and store at the corner of Union Valley Road and Illinois Avenue, and then cut $50k from the city's Economic Diversification Fund.
There was obvious concern about the rising tax rate, but not enough concern to keep three council members (only six present, so three votes killed it) from voting down what would have been a welcome addition to our sales and property tax base.
Sigh.
You know what? People who are for progress in this town need to be as quick to organize and galvonize as those who are against things.
For example, I don't know where I stand on the red light cameras, but the folks who are AGAINST it have already hosted a meeting and have bumper stickers printed.
It's so darn easy to say "no" to something and then wonder why things don't happen around here.
Those folks who are FOR something need to be as ready to organize. I'm very much in favor of a gas station there. Is there any recourse?
We NEED some sales tax dollars and I'll take it in gas money, junk food money or whatever. I'd rather have a Target (which is where I spent my Friday evening, after having dinner in K-town as well), but apparently, those who are against everything would rather that we not only NOT have a Target, but want us to NOT benefit from the gas money we could have as well. Then they wonder why our taxes go up????
Just a reminder, it is 12 cents per $100 of property valuation, and since it was $2.65 (I believe) that makes it about at 4.5% increase.
Those folks who are FOR something need to be as ready to organize. I'm very much in favor of a gas station there. Is there any recourse?
This rezoning (which had unanimous approval from the planning commission, BTW) can be brought back up in six months. IF the property owner is still interested, which is anybody's guess.
Obviously, Council members had been getting e-mails from citizens about the tax increase. I think one of the things that might help is for them to get lots of e-mails from those of us that are FOR things, explaining that the best way out of these tax increases is to be a lot more welcoming of new revenues to Oak Ridge.
Well, here we go again. The location is perfect and the business is needed. No revenue, tax increase. At some point we will either let business in or become a ghost town.
Haven't you heard? Crazy Elle is recruiting a refurbished Codpiece Factory for the same location.
She's hipper than I thought.