Chattanooga Times Free Press

Meigs, Rhea try to steer lakefront development with TVA

By Sean McCombs, Staff Writer

DAYTON, Tenn. - Rhea and Meigs counties are beginning to take steps toward developing nearly 1,700 acres of TVA land on Watts Bar Reservoir.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering deeding over the land to the counties so it can be developed for homes, golf courses, industrial parks and marinas.

Any land development would have to be approved by the TVA board of directors, but the two counties recently set up an authority to manage the development.

Thursday night, Meigs County named to the board Bill Buchanan, former president of Volunteer Energy Cooperative; Jerry Dale Smith, a banker with Southeast Bank and Trust; and Mark Kettenbeil, who owns a construction business.

Rhea County plans to name its development board Tuesday. County Executive Billy Ray Patton has asked commissioners to bring in nominees to Tuesday's County Commission meeting to fill the board's four slots.

"I've got nine names that have been submitted by commissioners," Mr. Patton said. "I think we've got some good people to serve on it."

He said the list of names includes businessmen, farmers, retired educators and former and current government officials.

If TVA decides to allow the land to be developed, it would deed the property to the development authority. That board eventually would sell the land to developers and regulate how it is used. The counties and TVA would split the proceeds of the sale.

Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Patton said this could be a financial boon to their communities. The total value of the project after it is developed could be worth more than $400 million, officials have said.

But not all area residents are excited about the plan.

Rhea County resident Jim Hampton, who lives nearby, questions the development proposal.

"They are talking like this is unused, barren wasteland," Mr. Hampton said. "It's one of the last places you can go and do whatever you want to do. We're selling out for big money for just one time."

E-mail Sean McCombs at smccombs@timesfreepress.com


the only remaining references in the Tennessee to the Euchee/Yuchi -
  • Euchee (town), Meigs County TN
  • Euchee Chapel, Rhea County TN
  • Euchee Dock, Meigs County TN
  • Euchee Old Fields (historical), Rhea County TN
         Indian meeting grounds now inundated by Watts Bar Lake
  • Euchee Post Office (historical) building, Meigs County TN

         (there is a Uchee AL, but that's it in the southeast ... that i can easily find.)






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