May 18, 2013
A Local 8 Weather Alert has been issued for today. Because of the threat of rain, thunder and even hail, outdoor activities may be disrupted or inconvenienced. What's going on? An upper-level low will be moving across East Tennessee today, creating a more unstable atmosphere.
GRAINGER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT)-- Grainger County Commissioners will create a committee to discuss how they can prevent pain clinics from opening in the county.
Commissioners made the decision after a 12 to 2 vote Monday night.
The vote came after a presentation by Becky Johnson, President of Grainger United Anti-Drug Coalition. Johnson talked to commissioners and dozens of community members about the negative impact pain clinics may have on the community.
There are currently no pain clinics in Grainger County, but Johnson said that may change if the county doesn't take action.
One way to help prevent pill mills from setting up shop in the area is by adopting zoning laws.
In the meeting, commissioners said that will only limit where pain clinics could open and operate but that doesn't prevent them from coming to the county entirely.
Some commissioners said they will not consider new zoning laws.
The one reason I'm against zoning is the cost of it. I talked to Jefferson County... their cost is around $105,000. I talked to Hamblen County, theirs is around $250,000 for a zoning department. Our taxpayers have to pay for that. We need to look after our tax payers because Grainger County has a high unemployment," said county commissioner James Acuff.
The next commission meeting is October 8. Commissioners plan to meet before then to further discuss the issue.
