A new rail terminal and thousands of jobs could be coming to Jefferson County. The proposed site would be off Highway 11E just outside New Market.
Developers want to build what’s called an inter modal and logistics park where cargo would be moved from trains to trucks.
The project would represent a $133 million investment and could create thousands of jobs.
However, many residents say they don’t want it in their back yards.
The farming community already gets lots of train traffic, but neighbors say with the new facility, there would be more trains, more trucks and more noise, not to mention it would require many of them to give up a portion of their land.
Linda Finchum is one of those who fears the beautiful scenery will soon be a thing of the past. “Well we don’t want to sell. We want to live here.”
Finchum’s husband’s family has lived on the land for the past 70 years.
On Wednesday, Finchum voiced her concerns at a community meeting in the Dandridge courthouse. “It will be a huge facility that runs 24 hours a day, that’s lit up like a city, have tall cranes. It will completely change the way we get in and out, our lives.”
Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri agrees it would be a big facility, but he says the project could bring in thousands of jobs and too much money to turn away.
When asked how he would feel if it was in his backyard, Mayor Palmieri says, “Well, I’d probably sell.”
“Can you take one or two individuals and deny an entire county the right for better jobs, for better schools, for more economic prosperity?” Palmieri asks. “You can’t do that.”
The mayor says Norfolk Southern Railroad hasn’t made any promises and the county has offered no incentives to the company.
“We’ve got to expand. We’ve got to attract new business, new industry,” Palmieri adds. “And those that feel like it should remain a bedroom community, I don’t make any apologies for having a different opinion than they do.”
The mayor says by this isn’t a done deal by any means. He says it’s just in the evaluation process and if it does happen, it could still be years down the road.
County officials estimate the facility could bring in 1,000 jobs initially and up to 10,000 in 12 years.
But the mayor says there’s no guarantee the company will choose Jefferson County. He says other sites are also under consideration in both Knox and Hamblen counties.
Source: WATE
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