Selfishness and greed by Corbin’s neighbors hindering progress

To the Editor:

An important role of business and government leaders is to remove roadblocks that hinder quality and performance. Leaders are responsible for doing what’s best for the people they lead and serve.

We have leaders in Laurel and Knox County including Senator Stivers and Senator Robinson who are more interested in their own self-interest and control than in what’s best for the people. Some businesses in South laurel want to be in Corbin’s city limits but the big bosses must have their way. During the years after World War II Corbin’s leaders put the utility infrastructure in South laurel to enable business and residential growth. The City of Corbin gained no tax revenue from their effort to help this area. There has been no respect nor teamwork demonstrated from Laurel County. Their attitude is to block development unless London, located fourteen miles north, is incorporated right in Corbin’s front door.

Corbin has also been abused by Knox County over 12 years as occupational taxes flow from businesses and workers within Corbin’s city limits to Knox County and actually another city, Barbourville. Senator Stivers has played the starring role as villain in this episode.

Greed and selfishness have wrecked the chances of people in Eastern Kentucky to enjoy a better quality of life. We don’t understand how the businesses in the Corbin portion of Knox County can sit quietly and watch this pitiful spectacle. Corbin declined to add an extra 1 percent tax to avoid imposing problems for businesses and workers in the Knox County part of the county. We would support Corbin if they did add this 1 percent because nobody else gives a whit for fairness and Corbin also funds the Industrial Commission that over the years has helped Knox County businesses in Corbin gain state incentives to grow and expand their businesses. Corbin helped CTA Acoustics gain approval for one of the highest incentives in Kentucky history after their fire and explosion. Corbin should quit funding the Knox County Industrial Boards and start a new Corbin Industrial Commission. Whitley County should also become a team player with Knox and Laurel.

We only live a short time on this earth and the Lord expects us to do our best to make it a better place not just for the few with the most, but for all God’s people. It’s time to work together.

Bob Terrell
Corbin

Donnie Witt
Williamsburg