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.
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.
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.
TVA either intentionally deceiving the public, or they have no respect for Native American culture.
Meigs County Mayor Bill James issued a press release Wednesday expressing support for TVA's Project Viper.
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 spoke Wednesday, February 13, to the TVA Board of Directors in Chattanooga on behalf of Georgetown residents and property owners.
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.
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 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.