As you know from other correspondence you have received, TVA is
considering leasing 90 acres of prime TVA land in Lauderdale County,
AL, to an individual (Bubba Doss) to build Elk River Marina. In
the original agreement, this land was to be leased to Mr. Doss for 30
years at only a cost of five-percent gross. This is the most
beautiful area left on the Elk River and is in close proximity to Joe
Wheeler Lodge, Bay Hill Marina, and The Pointe. Combined these
businesses have 500 slips already available to the public. Also,
there is no room at this location for additional traffic since
Elk River is very narrow at this point. We are, of course, very
concerned about the environmental impact.
On May 28, the TVA Board of Directors approved a recommendation to
implement a temporary moratorium on all major land transactions.
On June 29, 2006, the Corps of Engineers denied Mr. Doss’s permit
request without prejudice. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation
passed a full resolution on July 28, 2006, requesting that TVA place a
permanent moratorium on the sale, trade or transfer of land it
currently owns. This action comes on the heels of President
Bush’s executive order against eminent domain and the Tennessee
General Assembly passing a resolution (96-0) against TVA sales of
public lands.
As of yet, we have had no action from the state of Alabama on this
issue. Please appoint someone from your office or Commissioner
Barnett Lawley’s office to look into this matter of placing a
permanent moratorium on TVA land. Your constituents from North
Alabama are very concerned over the possibility of losing more TVA land
for development.
In the past you have acknowledged the information sent to you, and you
passed it onto Mr. Lawley; however, no action has been taken.
Since this land belongs to all of us, please do as Tennessee has done,
and consider helping the cause to save beautiful Elk River and other
TVA land.
I will be glad to meet with anyone from your office or Mr. Lawley to
show this property and further explain our concerns. Please call
me at (256) 230-0476 or write at the below address.
