Citizens vote: 58-11 in favor of McFee purchase
After about one-half hour of getting background information from Town of Farragut administrator David Smoak about the proposed Town $5.5 million purchase of 55 acres (and receive 15 acres free), 70 overall, of land along the western side of McFee Road in the southwest quadrant of Town a special meeting on the subject Monday evening, Sept. 25, in Farragut Communty Center, 14 citizens spoke
Those 14 expressed support, opposition — and in a few cases being neutral — on the subject of whether or not the Town should follow through with the Board of Mayor and Alderman’s June 22 Letter of Intent approval of the purchase by a 2-1 vote.
After the 14 spoke, 69 of roughly 85 citizens attending used their smartphones to vote either in favor of the proposed purchase or against.
The final tally, according to a screen shot of the vote inside the Community Center meeting room, indicated 58 votes in favor of the purchase and 11 against. A final BOMA decision on this will be made at its Oct. 26 meeting.
Of the Town’s five elected officials, two were present: Aldermen David White and Drew Burnette, the Board’s two South Ward representatives. Mayor Ron Williams, Vice Mayor Louise Povlin and Alderman Scott Meyer were not spotted among the attendees.
How it started
During a budget workshop last spring, Smoak told the Board a property owner, Tim Scott, offered to sell 55 acres of his land for $5.5 million for a park and then Scott would donate 15 acres to the Town. In turn, he wanted to have access from McFee Road to property he intends to retain, with the 70 acres for sale/donation in-between.
Then in June, the Board voted 2-1 to enter into the letter of intent. Aldermen Scott Meyer and Drew Burnette were absent for that meeting, Mayor Ron Williams and Vice Mayor Louise Povlin voted for the letter of intent while Alderman David White voted against the motion.
Since then, Smoak said land surveys showed a 1.7-acre sinkhole, but added that land could be open space or possibly a retention pond for water runoff.
