Well I have called Alexander’s office and Corkers office already this morning. We the people are going to have to fight this crap everyone needs to call their congressmen Remember they are the ones that have been telling us that they want the TVA do the right thing and take care of the people of Roane County. We need the publicity on this issue! I told Corker and Lamar that they need to get down here and meet with these affected people (because they have meet with the big wigs at TVA) and the residents and unite to do what is right for Roane County. We cannot stand by and let TVA do this. It don’t seem any of our local officials are going to organize a push to help the people out there so someone needs to!
Randy Ellis
randyellis@gmail.com

I hope this is sabre rattling. There is no way in creation that they can walk away. But, what it could do is create a tremendous delay while it is tied up in court. I'll beat the same old drum....If we don't get our leaders off their collective rear ends, we are headed for trouble. The best way to do that is a show of public outrage with lots of media present.

I didn't really have much faith in the TVA Board, but with the former GOP Chair's (Mike Duncan) recent takeover of TVA's Board, we should have seen this coming. Roane County will now feel the wrath of this next disaster - that of the uncaring GOP TVA. Bush's disaster response tatics lives on. - It happened to the Country that I love, now it will happen to the Roane County that I love. Grassroots action needs to start today, if not yesterday.

The Bush disaster response tatics lives on? Where has Obama been?

Randy Ellis
randyellis@gmail.com

Now is time for the People to call a citizen's meeting in which we invite our elected officals - no TVA whankers just our elected officals.

Call them before us to answer our questions and tell us what they are doing on our behalf.

And we can tell them what we want.

We run the meeting and make the rules - they will be the quests.

The officals that show up we can decided to keep or not keep at the next election.

The no shows we know will have to go.

Its time to take back our government.

Who will help set this meeting up?

We need a place to meet and some publicity.

Lincoln Davis is our best ally. Like I said before Lincoln is very concerned about Roane County and he has stated that his #1 priority is making sure TVA deals fairly with Roane County. Contacting Corker or Alexander is a waste of energy. Also there is no one at the local or state level that can help us as effectively as Lincoln Davis. Mike Farmer and Troy Beets are in so far over there heads perhaps someone should throw them a life jacket. They look like two collective wet rats floating out to sea on a 2x4. I called Lincoln last week and he called me back within 3 minutes while standing on the capital steps. You'll never get a call back from our GOP suckass senators. Furthermore, my faith in Bredesen is waning by the day. Wise up people...contact Lincoln Davis today. I am posting the link.

(link...)

Yes, we pay attention to our constituents! We(as in the office of Lincoln Davis) have scheduled one of our regular open meetings on March 14, 9:00 AM EST, at the Kingston Community Center. You should see something in the paper soon as well as hearing the announcement on radio.
This is one of our regular open meetings, but please feel free to address you concerns about TVA or other federal issues.

1. Contaminated lake

2. Contaminated air

3. Contaminated property values

4. Contaminated marketability

5. Contaminated local economy

There's 5 bombs TVA has dropped on Kingston, and all we see from TVA is a new wave of bombers on the horizon in the form of a 50 acre gypsum pond, Kansas City lawyers, a GOP environmental cancer aka Mike Duncan, and a pledge from TVA to make the ratepayers cough up the cash. As you can see our citizens are running short on patience. We're tired of reading TVA's "It may be a while before we get to you" letters while their $9Billion organization digs into their defensive positions. We are being raped and pillaged by TVA!!

Wow!
Old fashion calls to the Old GOP does nothing.
So, who's in tune with today's times and people?
Democrats.
Lincoln's staff show up on here to hear directly from the people.
All people.
Democrats and Republicans.
It took Democrats to reclaim a hopeful future for our Country and honor.
It may just take Democrats reclaiming leadership on the TVA board to reclaim hope and honor for TVA.
This business as usual mode for TVA could mean the end of TVA as we know it.
Love your country, not just yourself.
Lincoln leading by example.

Angry mobs have often changed the course of history.

Perhaps we’d be better served to stop whining and start marching.

What is wrong with law-abiding citizens holding public meetings and rallies to express themselves?

Why do we need elected officals and TVA retainers to hold our meeting for us?

WC, Your heading says, TVA lawyer says, "Screw Roane County"
Did the lawyer really say that or is it just your interpetation? And, your way to try and incite the citizens?
If he didn't say those words, then your heading is really a lie.

This is beginning to be one of those times when we must say,

"Yer either fer or agin, us - what's it gonna be?"

That you are a darn good TVA apologist is clear, but no amount of genuflecting before that outfit will change the truth.

I predicted in December that TVA would position itself to walk away and it sure looks like that is what they are planning to do.

As TVA shucks and jives, glad-hands and dances, they are inching toward slipping to stage left and a quick exit.

Right now, the battle is about position and perception and TVA is winning.

So are you "fer or agin us?"

... has been so demonized that folks have forgotten the last part of it:

"TVA officials wouldn't speak on camera Thursday about the lawsuits, but they released a statement saying they're committed to the residents and will clean up the spill."

At least in those words there is still a commitment. And they're not supposed to speak on camera about pending lawsuits.

RB

Releasing statements is not the same as releasing money.

TVA has a very large staff and an outside public relations firm paid to do nothing but release statements.

Tell us how releasing statements washes against the statements of our neighbors who say TVA is less forth coming with help than it is with statements.

The problem and resulting frustration you feel with our elected officials (and I am one) is not simply because we all lack the will or desire to "hold TVA accountable".

I am not apologizing for those officials that feel TVA is second only to the Holy Ghost in representing God on Earth (can you say Boss Beets), but

I am saying that it is a matter of firepower. Yes, guns. TVA has the big guns.

I am merely a City Councilman of a city of 5500 souls who was attacked by his own Mayor because I was fighting to hold TVA's feet to the fire and I as most local officials have few weapons at my disposal. Then when we do try to use our only effective weapon - our soapbox we can count on TVA's lackeys working overtime to discredit us.

Here is a hard fact - there is no local or state agency that has the legal authority to tell TVA what to do. Even those that portend to have the power and authority (TDEC, TWRA, etc.) really do not.

Even Lincoln Davis can do no more than hold hearings, raise questions, and or present plans.

When it comes to TVA, there is not a single person in the State of Tennessee or in the country short of the President of the United State who without warrant, subpoena, or court order can force TVA to attend a meeting, spend a dime, or say "Howdy Do".

TVA knows this.

Thus, it is safe to say but not an insult to say Mike Farmer is over his head. Unlike others who cast their lot in with TVA from the git-go, Mike has been and is trying.

At first, his committee seemed a grand idea - but it is unknowlingly playing TVA tune.

Whenever things look like they are heating up, TVA cries out, "Oh, no please don't ya'll throw us in that thar briar patch! No, no, not that - anything but that! We'll be good! We'll make things right... just not the briar patch!”

Upon hearing TVA lamentation, Mike's committee hollars, "We've got 'em now, boys! We're puttin' the hurt on 'em but good!" With this the committee hunkers back down, redoubling its efforts - ciphering, studying, and planning up a storm as TVA slips off to you know where.

The fact of the matter is that there is no one and no committee in Roane County equipped to go toe to toe with the stalling, blame-shifting, stonewalling, media manipulating pros at TVA.

Rest assured for all their talk of low salaries and hard times recruiting top notch people, TVA is first string all the way. Think of it, TVA has million dollar men!

Who in our local governments can boast being worth a million dollars a year?

To top that off, TVA probably has more in-house lawyers, legal aids, and public relations wordsmiths than Mike Farmer has County employees.

While Farmer's folks are trying to keep the day to day business of the county on track, TVA's hired pistoleros and in-house gunslingers are working full time to make sure TVA does NOT have to pay a dime more than TVA wants to pay.

That's at the County level, just think what in the world can Kingston City Council do?

Why pick any 10 of the top men at TVA and their salaries probably add up to more than Kingston's entire budget! We have no staff, no PR people, a get-along-go-along City Manager (a good man but one not prone to voluntarily poking skunks), and we meet just twice a month (at that most on council start getting antsy to adjourn whenever a meeting goes past an hour and a half).

While I hate to admit it, I too am at a loss. I am way over my head.

We all KNOW that Roane County has suffered grievously but just how grievous? Other than the people directly harmed who can accurately predict the long term and lasting negative effects of TVA’s Ash Spill (BTW which dumbass agreed to call TVA's Ash Spill the Emory River Ash Spill when the only thing the river spilled was dead fish!)

If TVA is dragging its feet to avoid or postpone helping the individuals who have NOT yet filed lawsuits, what chance does Mike Farmer, Mike's committee, Brant Williams, or for that matter Boss Beets have in getting TVA to pay more than lip service to our demands?

Perhaps that is why some officials are playing footsie with TVA. Heck, they know that TVA doesn’t have to talk to them, so why not go hat in hand, begging for any tasty scrap or tender morsal that might fall from the lord and master’s table?

Maybe Boss Beets is right – when in the giant’s castle looking to cop some coin, tread lightly so as not to offend the great beast. When seen in this light it is no surprise that Boss Beets first tired to gag me through a council vote and when that failed painted me a liar and an unethicial cheat because I was saying TVA should pay for the damage it wrought.

On the other hand, let’s say I again went off the reservation and talked Councilman McClure into helping call another public meeting, what then?

Been there, done that - TWICE.

Let’s say a big crowd of concerned citizens shows up, Boss Beets will talk down to them and treat them like idiots and Heaven help the poor soul who lives outside the city limits that attends a Kingston meeting and has the audacity to speak out. Who can blame people for giving up when faced with that kind of aggession at the hands of the man charged to watch out for them.

Naturally, TVA would show up in force and again monopolize the meeting with their song and dance. Even if their million dollar men don’t show, by now their lowest minions have the routine down pat. Tap-a-tap-tappity-tap-tap!

Same show, different day and when it’s all over, nothing will have changed.

Yes, Mike Farmer may very be over his head, I know I am.

I desperately want to do something to help, but at this point haven’t a clue and it seems every avenue is blocked by more "level headed" politicians who would rather swallow TVA's swill than find their own drink.

Sure I could go back on the TV news and even raise a stink for the papers, but before long Boss Beets or some other TVA bootlick would back-stab me (again). Heck, reporters still call looking for a juicy story, but without backing I am no longer willing to go it alone – Boss Beets’ beat me down (someone should write a song - the Boss Beets Beat Down).

To make matters worse I am beginning to think that no amount of talk and no matter how numerous the meetings, we may have reached the point of no return. We may have waited too long to BEGIN listing our demands.

Sure, it is too early to expect settlements but it was never too early to begin telling TVA what we expected, needed, and wanted.

By now, I am concerned that TVA is so firmly entrenched in a defensive posture that the only way to break them down may be through some form of civil disobedience.

However, before that happens we have another hope.

• The county commission could pass laws making it illegal to dump or store fly ash and acidic gypsum in Roane County or they could impose dumping fees. While the laws would likely not hold up they would get some much-needed publicity and put TVA on notice as to whose side our local government stood.
• If they cannot stop the dumping then the county should levy a service charge for every pound that is stored in Roane County. Some of the money could go into to a trust fund for the people who inevitably will be hurt.
• Another tactic would be for the county commission to levy a toll on each commercial truck that traverses a county road in and out of the TVA plant carrying any construction material or debris. This would be a use fee based on the damage inflicted to our roads and also an impact fee because the trucks are spreading dust and such.
• Then there is always the no cost electric to our local utilities

Sincerly,
Brant Williams
Councilman
Kingston, TN

My question is why is TVA so heartless? Why won't they do what is right? Why do they feel that it is best to purposely let people get sicker? What if they get sick enough to die? Will that warrant action by the president? Why can't the president do something now, before someone dies?
Why are they acting as if the citizens are the bad guys? Why will it take the media a probably someone to die to open the countrys eyes to what is really going on?

When you answer all these questions, you will see what a real threat an entitie is to the American way of life.

I agree that the workers have to do what they are told or they are replaced. I;m sure many of us live under the same set of rules. I am confused at your statement that they are not liable for their actions. I am not saying that is not true. I do not know. I am saying that if it is true, we have seriuos issues in this country to deal with. Everyone should be held accountable for their actions.

If they are not, this is a good time in history to change that. Maybe between all of us we can figure a way out.