Eminent Domain, Jefferson City Council Vs. Local Mythbusters
Image Credit: David Seal
By David Seal [Special to The Tennessee Conservative] –
Jefferson City’s Council’s ongoing saga with eminent domain looks more like an episode of MYTHBUSTERS than municipal business.
After years of neglecting a 13-acre city-owned ballpark and recreation area, three members of the Jefferson City, Tennessee city council decided that the city needed 95 acres of prime real estate on the other side of town for “recreation” that belonged to the parent company of Tennova Jefferson Memorial Hospital (JMH), the only property that Tennova could use to expand its medical services operation.
The community, hospital system, and county government were outraged.
Mayor Mitch Cain, Councilman Rocky Melton, and Councilwoman Ailene Combs voted to use eminent domain to acquire the pristine 95-acre hospital property for “public use” (touting recreation) rather than upgrade its neglected and dilapidated ball fields, even though 100 acres of property was available from a willing seller less than a half mile away, and a concerned citizen who is an expert in recreational facility design and production offered to help refurbish the old park at a greatly discounted cost.
Rumors have been circulated within the city government that the old city ball fields and nearby property are contaminated with unknown toxins, a reason cited to acquire the 95-acre Tennova Hospital property instead of refurbishing existing recreational property.
Councilman Rocky Melton cited, in a phone interview for this report, his belief that the properties adjacent to the existing ball fields are contaminated, making it impractical to acquire that property and to refurbish the existing recreational complex.
When asked to provide evidence concerning the “contaminated property” Mayor Mitch Cain said that contamination had been discussed in a council meeting in the 2014–2015-time frame but could not produce a report or point to any evidence of contamination.
Councilwoman Combs did not wish to comment further on the issue when contacted.
Councilman Kevin Bunch does not believe the property is contaminated and challenges anyone with evidence to step forward and present data.
Councilwoman Sheila Purkey stated that she has seen no report or data to suggest the old ballfields, or the adjacent property is contaminated. She too would “like to see the evidence if anyone has it.”
Bunch voted “No” and Purkey “Abstained” on the original eminent domain resolution.
The contamination myth has been busted by a 282-page Phase 1 Environmental analysis conducted by McGill Associates, Boone, North Carolina, which shows no contamination. City Manager James Gallup provided a copy of the environmental report for this news story on December 7, 2023.
Fortunately for the citizens of Jefferson County, Tennova Jefferson Memorial Hospital, and citizens of the region that depend on JMH medical care, a property owner has stepped forward and offered to donate 32-acres of real estate adjacent to the old ballfields if Jefferson City will use it for recreation and abandon its abusive taking of hospital property.
A follow-up report will be made pending any action by the city council.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.
You gotta love it. Chicanery at its best. Land is contaminated but we can’t prove it. Doesn’t matter, we want that land the hospital owns. No hospital needs that much land, never mind that it sat there for decades before the hospital purchased it. Put up or shut up, Jefferson City. Prove the land next the existing “parks and ballfields” and I use that description tongue in cheek, is contaminated or go down in flames. I’m of the humble opinion that if the eminent domain action were to be done, the city would then decide it couldn’t afford to build a new recreational area, which it can’t, and sell it off for development.