Opinion
The Quiet Pond
April 22, 2026 by
In a small pond tucked behind a stand of cattails, a group of frogs lived peacefully for many seasons.
Each morning, the frogs greeted the sun with their usual chorus. It wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs — a mix of croaks, chirps and the occasional off-key ribbit. The sound carried across the water, a reminder that the pond was alive and well.
One year, a pair of herons arrived.
They didn’t make much noise at first. They simply stood at the edge of the water, watching.
Some of the younger frogs noticed right away.
“We should speak up,” one said. “We should make noise so others know they’re here.”
But an older frog shook his head.
“Best to stay quiet,” he said. “We don’t want to draw attention.”
So the frogs lowered their voices. Their morning chorus grew softer.
The herons waded in a little deeper.
A few more frogs disappeared.
Again, the younger frogs grew uneasy.
“We should warn the others,” one said. “We should be loud.”
But the answer came back the same.
“Keep your head down. Stay quiet. It will pass.”
Days turned into weeks. The pond grew quieter still.
Where there had once been a chorus, there were now only scattered croaks.
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April 22, 2026 by
Dear editor,
In response to Alderman Cain’s letter, a review of the staff report and proposed duties for the Economic Development position is warranted. Nothing in the report indicates duplication of efforts already handled by the Chamber of Commerce, Shop Farragut, or Visit Farragut. Nor does it indicate any intention for the Town to enter the commercial development business - an activity that properly belongs to the private sector, not municipal government.
If the duties laid out can be integrated into an existing staffing role, all the better. Did he suggest that during the recent Board workshop that was held to discuss this position?
Farragut was founded in 1980 to preserve the community’s character after Knox County’s lack of development standards and haphazard planning led residents to support incorporation. Since then, the Town has operated without a municipal property tax. The Town relies on business-generated revenue as its primary revenue source. By maintaining strict development standards to protect our community's character, Farragut has a reputation as a challenging location for businesses.
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April 22, 2026 by
Dear editor,
In the article a few weeks ago regarding greenways, property use, and Town planning contained factual inaccuracies and misrepresented the Town’s stance on private property rights.
The claim that the Turkey Creek Road project was solely about a greenway extension is incorrect. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed multiple options during a May 2023 workshop. The Board approved a combined road widening and greenway design to address public safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians along that stretch of Turkey Creek Road. The design contract approved in September 2023 reflects the Board’s decision.
During the May 16, 2024, Farragut Municipal Planning Commission (FMPC) meeting, citizen and property owner concerns about the Turkey Creek Road plan led the FMPC to unanimously defer any action— no action was taken; no plan was approved. There has been no effort to assess property for purchase.
The recently amended “eminent domain law” went into effect after this meeting. Since no action was taken on the Turkey Creek Road plan, there was no possibility of violating the amended law. It should be noted that TDOT does not share Mr. Neal’s interpretation of this law.
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April 22, 2026 by
Dear editor,
Just to set the record straight......as one who was directly involved in the founding of Farragut and former alderman and Vice mayor, I would like to say I am extremely pleased with Farragut's development. It is not perfect, but then again, no place is.
But we have seen it flourish in the last 45 years and has recently received the distinction of being one of the most desirable communities in Tennessee. Every community has its growing pains, but has it been worth it? I would answer with a resounding yes.
What we enjoy now is pretty much what we envisioned, ......and all without taxing our citizens. If we cannot afford it, we do without! We are now enjoying the efforts of Mayor Williams and former Vice Mayor Louise Povlin in acquiring countless grants to have what we see before us. Our board members have done it all by volunteering because they love this community, not because of their gain.
Although the first mayor and I disagreed on many issues, there were several issues we all agreed on. His vision was to have a walkable community from end to end, and provide many of the fine parks we have today, and for the most part this has been accomplished. Many hours were spent on gathering the citizens' input.
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April 22, 2026 by
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