After more than a year of negotiations, the much-anticipated transfer of management of Overton Farm from the Bear Creek Development Authority to the Town of Hodges is complete, as the BCDA Board approved the move last week.
The action came at the board's April 29 meeting after the board received final approval from Tennessee Valley Authority officials to officially transfer control of the property to Hodges.
Overton Farm, a 211-acre tract, was deeded by Forrest B. Overton and his wife Annie to BCDA in 1968. The property, which includes historic family farm buildings from the 1800s along with a large educational facility capable of housing overnight groups, was closed several years ago after a string of consecutive years that saw the facility losing money.
At the request of Hodges officials, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow (D-Red Bay) proposed to the board in January of 2014 that BCDA transfer day-to-day operations of the facility to the town, which plans to include it as part of its growing tourism base featuring Rock Bridge Canyon and an equestrian trail.
The board voted to create a sub-committee to work with Hodges and TVA officials to create a working plan for the transition. That process became tumultuous, at times, as Morrow complained that the BCDA board ignored his requests for updates on the transfer process.
BCDA officials said the timetable was out of their control, as they waited for TVA to review the proposal. BCDA operates under TVA authority pursuant to a December 13, 1967 contract known as “Contract TV-64000A,” which gives TVA the right of prior review and approval of all “sale documents, contracts and deeds of conveyance” of BCDA property.
Accordingly, TVA approval was required in advance of any Overton Farm operational transfer.
Board member Connie Morrison, who became chairwoman in February, said completion of the Overton Farm transfer was always a priority for the board.
“We had already done a letter of intent at our December meeting, and it was sent to all the parties involved,” Morrison said. “Hodges and TVA officials had to review it and make sure it was worded the way it needed to be, and we needed to answer any questions."
Attorneys for each of the three entities approved the language contained in the agreement, thus allowing the transfer to be completed.
The Town of Hodges now assumes management and operational control of Overton Farm.
“This gives them the authority to go in and do assessments and see what needs to be done, and it gives them the opportunity to start looking for funding avenues for restoration of the cabin and the rest of the property,” Morrison said.
The agreement is for three years with an option to renew, upon approval from all parties, for an additional 20 years.
While Morrow's criticism of the BCDA Board and TVA was frequent during the process, he said it was never personal.
“This entire process has been about restoring to the people an important historical public asset that had been closed and allowed to deteriorate,” Morrow said. “Almost daily, I'm contacted by someone who remembers Overton Farm as a child and has pleasant memories. I'm pleased to hear a major step has been taken toward restoring it to public use.”
With three entities involved in drafting the lease, the process concluded in a reasonable time, Morrison said.
“Anytime you work across lines with multiple agencies, it just takes longer. There's no doubt about that,” Morrison said. “Some people became frustrated because of that and felt we weren't doing our jobs, which I assure you we were. You have to take things one step at a time.
“Now, the Town of Hodges has the authority to oversee everything relating to Overton Farm. I think this was a good result for everyone involved."
