The Tennessee Valley Authority is a creation of government that secretly decided to build a “secure office complex” in Georgetown, TN. It’s a $300 million project that will change the face of the rural community forever. It was developed in secret for years, and TVA tried to keep it secret from citizens and elected officials. Is “Project Viper” poison for Georgetown? No one knows because TVA’s not talking.

Is transparency and public input too much to ask?

 
 
Dr. Troy Smith is a professor at Tennessee Tech whose focus is Native American studies walking the Georgetown site where 15 stone cairns, to date, have been reviewed by two archaeological firms. CLICK HERE to read the professor’s full report.

Dr. Troy Smith is a professor at Tennessee Tech whose focus is Native American studies walking the Georgetown site where 15 stone cairns, to date, have been reviewed by two archaeological firms. CLICK HERE to read the professor’s full report.

COMPLETE CONTENT

Aug 30, 2018 to date

 
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Georgetown & TVA, One Year Later

This letter from the TVA to property owners dated Aug. 9, 2018, started a year of discussion in Georgetown about property rights, infrastructure, transparency, Project Viper, eminent domain...and ultimately Native American artifacts.

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Historical Assessment of the Gunstocker Creek Cairns by Dr. Troy Smith

Dr. Troy Smith is a professor at Tennessee Tech whose focus is Native American studies. He walked the Georgetown site where 15 stone cairns, to date, have been reviewed by two archaeological firms. TVA wants to put a transmission line right in the middle of the discovery.

"TVA assessing whether transmission line must be rerouted after more cultural artifacts found in route to proposed complex"
"TVA assessing whether transmission line must be rerouted after more cultural artifacts found in route to proposed complex"

With every new Archaeological discovery, the need to protect sacred Native American history in Georgetown becomes more clear. It's time for TVA to respect private property rights and find an alternative route to avoid the sensitive site. 

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Second study of Georgetown site reveals 15 stone cairns, not just one as TVA claimed

 TVA either intentionally deceiving the public, or they have no respect for Native American culture.

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How Much Will Meigs County Taxpayers Really Benefit?

Meigs County Mayor Bill James issued a press release Wednesday expressing support for TVA's Project Viper.

TVA Discovered Native American Artifacts on the Georgetown Property

TVA confirmed to the Cleveland Daily Banner they discovered Native American artifacts on the Georgetown property where it intends to cut a right of way through farmland to power Project Viper.

Greg Vital Speaks to the TVA Board of Directors
Greg Vital Speaks to the TVA Board of Directors

Greg Vital spoke Wednesday, February 13, to the TVA Board of Directors in Chattanooga on behalf of Georgetown residents and property owners.
Let’s Talk about Transparency, Treating Ratepayers with Respect And Project Viper in Georgetown

Since the disclosure of TVA Project Viper in August 2018, Georgetown residents and property owners have been calling on the Tennessee Valley Authority leadership to answer questions about the $300 million project that is certain to change the face of a rural community.
Letter to TVA from Concerned Residents of Georgetown

Dear TVA: Five months ago, TVA employees came to Georgetown. It’s time to come back and talk.

On Aug. 30, the agency held a public meeting and the letter sent to 70 or so property owners (dated Aug. 9, 2018) said the meeting concerned a $26 million upgrade to a transmission line from Hopewell to Georgetown to serve a “secure office complex.” A press release was issued on Aug. 20.
TVA Employees Supported by an Armed Guard Enter Private Property

TVA employees supported by an armed guard entered the private property the government agency is condemning shortly before 1 p.m. today. The environmental study team was from Knoxville. They said they weren't testing, just observing the "natural features." The officer in full body armor wouldn't say where he was based, just "Hamilton." They crossed Gunstocker Creek and onto Project Viper, TVA's $300 million new secret city in Georgetown, around 2:45 p.m.

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Georgetown Property Owners Seek Proposals For Independent Environmental & Archeological Study

TVA is moving aggressively to complete its ‘Quick Take’ possession of the 4 private properties in Georgetown through Federal Court action necessary to expand the last 1 mile of powerline easement they do not own through eminent domain for Project Viper.

But first, archaeological, architectural and environmental studies are underway by one of the most respected firms in the Region, Mid South Consulting along the 4.25 miles of existing right of way from Hopewell to Georgetown.

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Georgetown Property Owner asks Federal Judge To Stop Immediate Access to Private Property

Lawyers for Georgetown property owner Greg Vital went to court Friday and ask Federal Judge Sandy Mattice to set aside the court’s order giving TVA immediate access to the property the TVA needs for Project Viper, a $300 million “secure office complex” that moves the agency’s power control plant from downtown Chattanooga to Georgetown in Meigs County.
TVA USES EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS TO CONVINCE JUDGE TO GRANT IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO GEORGETOWN PROPERTIES

TVA didn't even give the property owners time to respond to a lawsuit filed Nov. 20 before it steamrolled its way into federal court Friday morning, where TVA lawyers requested and were granted -- using the eminent domain powers of the TVA Act of 1933 -- immediate possession and access to four properties in Georgetown adjacent to Project Viper, TVA's new, $300 million secret city.
TVA SUES GEORGETOWN CITIZENS DEMANDING IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY

VA filed suit on Tuesday, Nov. 20, against four private citizens in order to take their private property for Project Viper in Georgetown. Property owners found out in the media. TVA has done nothing it said it would do since over the past 90 days. Below is a statement from Greg Vital, one of the property owners who has tried to work with TVA without success.

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Times Free Press Provides an Update on Project Viper

September 2017, TVA received a consultant’s report outlining how to provide water and wastewater service to its “secure office complex” in Georgetown. No one other than TVA knew anything about the project until the third week of August 2018.

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TVA Files with TDEC for "Project Viper"

TVA has filed with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to build "Project Viper," which appears to be TVA's chosen name for its "secure office complex" in Georgetown. (TDEC Project #SOP-18017)

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NEW, UPDATED MAPS Showing TVA's Path Across the Land in TN

Is this the best TVA can do? TVA IS INEVITABLE. But the continued destruction of the landscape is not necessary. Citizens deserve information and more transparency from TVA.

TVA operates in seven states all over the south and owns almost 300,000 acres of land. With its property or what it can buy, how was this site chosen for the "secure office complex?" And the best path for a new transmission line is across the private property of four residents in Georgetown?
Traffic. Sewer Confusion. Roads. Did TVA Consider the Impact on Infrastructure in Georgetown?
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Lots of Questions, No Answer: Will TVA Schedule Another Meeting?

TVA has little to say about its new secret city in Georgetown, but residents, taxpayers, property rights advocates and TVA watchers have lots of questions, such as:

· Is TVA now actually considering alternate routes vs. cutting a mile-long swath through virgin farmland, or just pacifying citizens?
Residents Pack TVA Meeting about Georgetown

eorgetown residents turned out in mass on Thursday in Georgetown to talk with TVA. A total of 74 invitations were sent out to property owners potentially impacted by the secret, $300 million power control center, and more than 150 turned out!

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So, Here’s What TVA Is Doing in Georgetown

The article on the front page of the Times Free Press was good to see Wednesday morning after Georgetown residents had spent nine days wondering what TVA’s new $300 million "secure office complex” was.

What is TVA Doing in Georgetown?
What is TVA Doing in Georgetown?

That has been the question on the minds of citizens since Aug 20 when TVA announced a $26 million major transmission upgrade to provide power to a “new TVA secure office complex” The secure complex is to be built on 167 acres TVA owns along Highway 58 just north of the intersection of Highway 58 and Highway 60 at Gunstocker Creek in Meigs County. A week’s worth of inquiries have yielded no new information.

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