Overton Possibly Loses Industrial Development Site After Committee Meeting

Two industrial developments that would have brought some 400 jobs to Overton County will not happen for now.

Commissioner Darwin Clark said the county commission was set to vote on a 210-acre land purchase Monday night. But, the item died in the Industrial Development and Planning Committee minutes before the full commission meeting.

“They got a motion by Roger Carr,” Clark said. “No one seconded the motion. After several attempts from the Chairman Geraldine Walker, the motion didn’t carry so it failed.”

Clark said the results came after eight to ten residents expressed concerns of the possible developments. Clark said they sited existing infrastructure, overcrowded schools and property values declining as issues.

“We have sufficient electricity there,” Clark said. “We have a pumping station. Some of the other concerns were overcrowded schools, which we already have to a certain extent. We explained to them that is a county school issue. The other concerns were how would it affect their property value if they build a factory next to their properties and home.”

County Executive Ben Danner had been working with two companies who wanted to purchase the land to begin development on the Rickman site. It is adjacent to the existing industrial park in the area.

“They’re legit. Don’t get me wrong,” Clark said. “I don’t think anywhere in this county that we had picked a site for it there would have been somebody upset about it. I don’t blame them. I don’t, but if the county is ever going to grow we’re going to have to buy some land somewhere.”

Clark said a few years ago the Rickman Road site was selected by the state as a prime industrial location.

“I hate it for the folks of Overton County, because it would have brought in several hundred jobs and supposedly good wages,” Clark said. “But, that’s the way it is.”