Why should Chattanooga allow special interests to boost sediment pollution in our South Chickamauga Creek? To pad their profit margin and pass that cost on to city taxpayers? If your city council votes to reduce the storm water regulations – that is the result we can expect.
Special interest homebuilders profit, but citizens pay. More sediment pollution and paid for with your tax dollars - because Chattanooga will be out of compliance with state permits (MS4) for clean water. Legally Chattanooga must then spend additional tax dollars to rectify deficiencies to protect our water. For new projects, such as expensive stream restorations, potentially requiring millions of dollars versus common sense best management practices (BMP’s) already in place. Short term thinking leads to long term costs.
Ask your city council representative to vote against the amendment to increase sediment pollution in South Chickamauga Creek and protect the foundation of your Chattanooga outdoors and your drinking water, by maintaining current common-sense storm water regulations to protect your waters. Ask them to vote against a “citizens pay special interests to increase sediment pollution” approach favored by the Home Builders Association.
That isn’t an investment - that is a cost to you, our environment and our outdoor city. Short term thinking leads to long term costs.
Bruce Blohm