By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- During its meeting on Thursday evening, the Campbell County Joint Economic Community Development Board (JECDB) heard concerns from business owners regarding the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency’s proposed OHV permit fee increase for those riding the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.

Justin Jones owner of Ride Royal Blue addressed the board about concerns over a “dramatic increase” in annual fees being proposed by TWRA to ride side by sides on their trails. The TWRA is proposing $200/year for local residents and $500/year for nonresidents and is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its annual meeting in early December.

 Board members discussed how “significant a negative impact this could have on our local economy and our tax base” as “millions of dollars have now been invested in infrastructure supporting these activities including campground developments, food service, and property acquisition and development.”

Jones shared that the TWRA Board was meeting in Memphis in early December and the fee increase was an agenda item.  Count Mayor Jack Lynch shared that he and several county commissioners would attend that meeting to share their concerns with the board of TWRA commissioners on how their action if passing this increase in fees would “adversely impact local business as well as the county’s local tax base.”

Mayor Lynch also shared that he would contact other county mayors to join with his in addressing this issue.  

JECDB Chairman Jay Willoughby said there should “probably be consideration to putting together and economic impact study and have the Board come to the counties being adversely impacted by this fee increase for public hearings, but that due to the short time frame available before the meeting, those parties facing financial harm might have to turn to the court system to seek a Temporary Restraining Order or an Injunction to postpone this action until their information can be collected and organized for a presentation.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/19/2024-6AM)

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