MARION COUNTY, Tenn. - Tempers flared Thursday night at a Foster Falls community meeting as representatives for the new Jasper Highlands development tried to convince the local fire department to respond to emergency calls while the developers construct their own fire department.
By the end of the meeting, which was filled with shouting and accusations, nothing changed. So if a fire occurs in Jasper Highlands, no fire department will respond.
"It's unbelievable that humans could act like that," said John "Thunder" Thornton, Jasper Highlands' developer.
There are seven houses occupied on Jasper Highlands with more currently being built. People from all over the country - 26 states total - as well as some people from Australia have purchased lots in the development.
A scenic view from one of many bluff view lots is seen at the Jasper Highlands subdivision atop Jasper Mountain in Marion County on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, near Kimball, Tenn.
John "Thunder" Thornton is seen in 2014 at one of many bluff view lots at the Jasper Highlands subdivision atop Jasper Mountain in Marion County.This all started after one resident, Edward Moriarty, drove up to the development recently to check on the construction of his home. While there, his car caught fire. When he called 911, sheriff's deputies showed up but nobody from the fire department would come.
The issue is that Jasper Highlands isn't covered by Foster Falls, which was a surprise to Thornton. So Thornton, some Jasper Highlands homeowners and Thunder Enterprises President Dane Bradshaw went to the community meeting Thursday to submit a request.
"We're asking for some help," Bradshaw said. "Can we have that benefit (of paying taxes) for six months that you guys can vote us in? And if in six months we don't do our part, the coverage stops. Could we make that motion?"
The answer from the council - no.
The issue was discussed for about 40 minutes. When Bradshaw was first granted the floor, he remarked how it looks like "it's the bride and the groom wedding right now," because the homeowners from Jasper Highlands sat on the left side, and the members of the Foster Falls community sat on the right.
Bradshaw said according to the state fire marshal's coverage map, Jasper Highlands falls under the Foster Falls domain. But last summer, Foster Falls Volunteer Fire Department voted to take out Jasper Highlands from its coverage area.
Nobody told Thornton or Bradshaw.
But why doesn't Foster Falls want to provide coverage?
A Foster Falls firefighter in attendance said it would take 29 minutes for a fire truck to get from the Foster Falls department to Jasper Highlands.
And if the fire department responds to a fire on Jasper Highlands, and then there's a fire in Foster Falls, the fire department won't be able to respond to that fire.
"Reasonably, we're not going to do you guys any good," said Chad Merrell, vice chairman of the community board.
But that's not the point, Thornton and Bradshaw said. Even if Foster Falls can't respond to the fire, mutual aid means that any of the surrounding 13 fire departments could respond. But right now, those 13 fire department can't respond because Jasper Highlands doesn't have a primary station.
In six months, this won't be an issue. Jasper Highlands is building its own fire department, as was always the plan, Thornton said.
"We are moving fast forward to do that," Thornton said. "When we have the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department, we will provide the mutual aid for your 648 homes. And we'll be proud to come over here and help you with fire."
"We don't want your fire department!" one member of the crowd yelled.
Adding another wrinkle to the situation is one of the fire trucks that Foster Falls uses was a gift from Thornton. He said he gave the department the truck as a gift because the community asked for one.
Members of the crowd found this fact suspect.
"The fire truck that's just kind of a bribe," one man in the crowd said to Thornton.
Thornton and Bradshaw laughed at the accusation.
"It is a bribe!" one lady yelled. More yelling ensued.
Thornton said he gifted them the truck years before any construction began on Jasper Highlands.
Eventually, the council came up with a resolution - give the truck back to Thornton and Jasper Highlands. Amid yelling, the council passed the resolution and called the meeting to adjourn.
"I don't want it," Thornton yelled, throwing up his hands. He said he still has to build a firehouse and train firefighters. Having a truck won't help.
The fate of the truck is unknown, because the council told the Times Free Press after the meeting the resolution passed and Thornton would be getting his truck back.
But Thornton said he won't accept the fire truck. It was a gift, and it belongs to them.
Thornton and Bradshaw said after the meeting they were expecting the community to give them help for six months. They were upset that wasn't the case and the seven homes currently have no fire coverage.
"It's the right thing to do," Thornton said. "Isn't this the ultimate example of no good deed goes unpunished?"
Contact staff writer Evan Hoopfer at ehoopfer@timesfreepress.com or @EvanHoopfer on Twitter or 423-757-6731.