Fears over losing a Boys & Girls Club in the Copper Basin won out over safety concerns at a meeting of the Polk County commission Thursday, June 20.
District 3 Commissioner Samantha Trantham presented a resolution that would withdraw the county commission’s support for the club to be located on Copperhill Industries property, part of a federally designated Superfund site.
She stressed the resolution reflected her concern for the health and safety of children. Trantham also worried over the ongoing mining and logging activities beside the proposed club location, as well as the dangers that exist from the former industrial operations on the property.
Club representatives countered that environmental assessments, along with promised asbestos removal, would make the building where the club will be headquartered safe. They also said the site is far enough removed from other activities on the property to make it safe.
Trantham introduced here resolution saying the commission was “not seeking to remove funding” for the club, that such an idea was never on the table despite rumors to the contrary that have run rampant.
She said there have been plenty of alternatives presented for the club’s location that are “free of harmful situations” for East Polk children.
Fellow District 3 Commissioner Keith Barker agreed, saying he was not opposed to the club in any way, “Just not in favor of the location.”
District 1 Commissioner Kelley Morgan, who spoke as a member of the Boys & Girls Club board, countered, “We’re being told it’s okay,” to put the club in the building, which is the former General Office building dating back to the Tennessee Copper Company. She said the club has “done everything on our end” to make sure the location is safe.
Trantham held up the paperwork reflecting environmental violations connected to the spreading of biosolids at Copperhill Industries from November and December of 2023. She said that was what had stopped the biosolid process.
Derrick Kinsey, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Club of the Ocoee Region, said he had environmental studies proving the site would be safe. He also said the asbestos in the building would be removed.
“We really do put safety first,” Kinsey assured the citizens packed into a room at the Copper Basin Community Center.
Audience members were vocal on both sides of the issue.
Mack York, who worked at the company for 32 years, said, “I’ve seen a lot of people die from the dust” there.
“The dust is still there” that made everything so dangerous he said, saying his grandchildren would not set foot on the property.
Marcella Osteen said, “There’s got to be other places (to locate the club)...Superfunds last forever.”
Melissa Key, a member of the Boys & Girls Club board from East Polk County, said the club had “to rely on somebody” to say the site is safe. She said the club “is so needed” and losing it would be “a huge opportunity missed.”
Barker said three other locations had been offered to the club, he and District 2 Commissioner Greg Brooks specifically asking Kinsey why the location on Highway 68 near Copper Basin High School was abandoned. The land was being donated to the club, and the county had offered help with preparation.
District 3 Commissioner Mush Davis previously said that, after a Building and Grounds Committee meeting at the site with club officials, he thought the location was definite.
Kinsey said after the meeting an engineer, who sits on the club board, looked at the site and determined it was not suitable. He cited a lack of green space, the excessive amount of excavation that would be needed, and working around the creek on the property.
Kinsey said the county never put anything in writing as to the amount of help that would be offered.
Brooks countered he couldn’t write something on a “Sonic napkin” the night everyone met, and had expected Kinsey to come to the commission with a proposal.
Darren Kimsey spoke in favor of the location, saying “This is for the kids.”
David Farrow called the change in the location a “bait and switch” by the club because there had been “no transparency whatsoever.”
Ducktown resident Cortney Hook said the club offers, “A program we do need here. I don’t want to lose our club.”
Barker told Kinsey, “This whole thing could have been avoided.” He said immediately after hearing of the Boys & Girls Club vote to move to the Copperhill Industries site, he called and left messages asking board members to call him so that concerns could be addressed.
All he received was word from board member John Miles that there was no way the club was going to change its mind.
The county agreed previously, before the Copperhill Industries location was announced, to be the flow through agent for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money for the club.
When asked to do so by Morgan, County Executive Robby Hatcher explained how that process works.
It was explained that if the county now refused the flow through obligation, the money would go back to the grant issuing authority and not the club.
Members of the audience, many of whom were club representatives and from other areas served by the club, expressed fears this could severely hinder, and could even stop, plans.
District 2 Commissioner Debbie Davis said, “I don’t feel like this is our business,” that it was not the commission who gave the clearance for the club to locate on the Superfund site.
She said whether or not children are allowed to go there is up to the parents, like choosing a babysitter. You don’t take your child to a bad babysitter, Davis said.