News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County Executive Ben Danner said the county will look for other strategies to land two potential large scale employers.
The purchase of 210 acres near Highway 111 in Rickman did not make it to the county commission for a vote Monday night. A few residents expressed concern during a industrial development and planning committee meeting.
“I’ve been in contact with the companies that were involved,” Danner said. “We’re still not out yet on this prospect. We’re still in the ball game I feel like. We’re just going to have to go a different route.”
Danner said he does not plan to bring the Rickman property back to the commission at this point. Danner called the situation “frustrating.” Danner said he believed the majority of commissioners would have supported the purchase.
“The committee gave me the authority to make an agreement to try to purchase the property. Then the committee decided not to go through with it,” Danner said. “So, I don’t really understand why. I guess they have their own reasons. It’s frustrating, because I think the majority of the people in this county want us to try and bring jobs to this county.”
Danner said he is working with Industrial Consultant Ray Evans on how to move forward. Danner said in his mind, the Rickman site was the best fit for the development.
“I’ve had a lot of input from the community today, and a lot of people are upset that the county commission some of them choose not to progress this county and bring this number of jobs here,” Danner said.
Two companies that would bring some 400 jobs submitted letters of intent to move to the proposed industrial site, according to Danner. Danner said other land is available in Monroe, but it does not have the infrastructure to support a facility.
