As I understand from a source of mine there was some excitement at the Blount County Commissioners meeting during comments about the GSMNP backcountry user fee that went into effect earlier this month. At the commissioners meeting last week (Feb. 14) the commission voted 14-0 supporting a resolution opposing the fee. Last night (Feb. 21) the resolution opposing the fee was passed by a margin of two votes (11-9). That seems to be a big shift.
Below is a clip from the The Daily Times of Blount County, TN.
A resolution sponsored by Blount County Commissioner Tab Burkhalter to take a symbolic stand against the new backcountry reservation and permitting process in Great Smoky Mountains National Park passed 11-9 with one abstaining.
Voting yes with Burkhalter included Commissioners Tony Burchfield, Gary Farmer, Jim Folts, Ron French, Brad Harrison, Scott Helton, Holden Lail, Mike Lewis, Monika Murrell and Gordon Wright.
Voting no were Commissioners Richard Carver, Mike Caylor, Roy Gamble, Mark Hasty, Gerald Kirby, Petty Lambert, Kenneth Melton, Jerome Moon and Steve Samples.
Commissioner Tom Greene abstained.
The action has no direct impact on the changes that took effect on Feb. 13, when the park began charging $4 per person, per night for use of the park’s backcountry campsites and shelters.
GSMNP Superintendent Dale Ditmanson, who was a member of the audience, asked the commission to oppose the resolution, adding he was surprised and taken aback when he learned of it.
“The fact is we began the civic engagement process almost two years ago,” he said.
Burkhalter said the county government needed to be more involved in the process. “My purpose in this resolution is to let the park service know that we represent the constituents that use the park.”
Ditmanson said there had been significant newspaper and television coverage of the proposal during the public input process.
There is also the fact that the fee is meeting its purpose, Ditmanson said. “What is completely overlooked in the resolution is the fee is generally improving customer service.”
Blount County resident Dan Lawson said he had volunteered for the backcountry permit office and that the new system was a good one. “To me it is a real asset to backpackers,” he said.
Several audience members spoke in support of the resolution prior to the vote.
John Quillen, who maintains the http://southernforestwatch.org website, has led public opposition to the fee. The organization has threatened to file a lawsuit against imposition of the fee.
Quillen expressed his thanks to the commission for considering the resolution. “We don’t have a voice,” he said. “The federal government didn’t listen to us.”
Homage to Appalachia 
I mean, it $4. I’m just curious to know why they are now just doing this when the process has been going on for some time? It seems to me that the Commissioner is just bored.
The fight has been going on for two years, kwchannell. This resolution isn’t a last minute entry into the fray. It is a tactic to send a message since all other avenues have failed. If you study what the Southern Forest Watch has done, it is a tremendous effort that involves hundreds of people.