The salt of the earth: Daniell holds on to country life as Foxhall development looms By Daniel Lumpkin, Staff Writer douglascountysentinel/news/article_acbee374-53fd-11e4-ba58-0017a43b2370.html Past the roundabout on Highway 5, instead of a Publix or Kroger, a man was selling apples out of his pickup truck that he drove down from Ellijay. He called them ‘good cooking apples’ and sold 8 for $3. The man represented an older time before national chain grocery stores took over. But down in south Douglas County, an area that is largely undeveloped, he seemed to belong, surrounded by the woods and farmland. The natural land, still untouched by strip malls or shopping centers, was a primary reason why Eddie Daniell chose to move to that area in 2009. Daniell is so far south down Highway 5 in Douglas County hes got a Whitesburg address. Now, with a Westin Hotel, conference center and other development at Foxhall expected to come before the Board of Commissioners soon, Daniell could see that disappear. “My wife and I bought this land because it was out in the country,” Daniell said. “When Pam and I found this land and thought about buying it, we knew how far it was to the grocery store. We knew how far it was to the post office. Still, there is a grocery store 11 miles (in one direction) and 9 miles (in the opposite direction). There are places that are convenient to us, but you don’t just get in the car and go to the store. This is why we bought out here.” Before he retired, Daniell spent more than 30 years as an employee of the county, serving as a fireman. He spoke to the BOC at their meeting last week, reminding them that claims of the Foxhall development will certainly cost the taxpayers. “All of these meetings, Mr. Pumphrey keeps telling us about the development inside of Foxhall,” Daniell said, referring to Chris Pumphrey, executive director of the Development Authority of Douglas County. “He keeps saying that it is not going to cost the taxpayers a penny. They’ve never talked about the fact that we will need additional fire service, additional police and ambulance service. They’ve never mentioned that.” Daniell also believes that if the Foxhall development goes according to plan, the traffic in the area will become a problem. Daniell said the county should be more concerned with solving the problems outside of Foxhall before paying for things that are inside of the Foxhall property. “Let’s do some infrastructure improvements outside of Foxhall to alleviate traffic before we get concerned with what’s going on inside of Foxhall,” Daniell said as he walked around his property pointing out the deer trails. “Even with that being said, I don’t want to see the woods go away.” Daniell owns a house on 10 acres of property. White oak and pines surround his ranch-style home. He keeps a garden, which some would call a small farm. This season Daniell grew sweet potatoes, okra, Alabama green beans, peanuts and squash. While he gardens, Daniell will sometimes find a spearhead or arrowhead that was made by Native Americans that lived on the land centuries ago. This is a hobby he has had since he was a boy and in his house are jars full of these historical artifacts. “That 600 acres (on the Foxhall property) are mostly like what I have,” Daniell said. “There are a few open spots but it mostly is just wooded. Its just nature. It wont be when they get through.” Daniell believes that these remaining pieces of history, of his own heritage, will also disappear with the new corporate park. He does not want to see the area around his home go through a drastic change. But despite his opposition to development, Daniell still spoke to county commissioners with complete respect and gratitude last week. “I guess it goes back to my raising,” Daniell said when he was asked about his respectful approach. “I was raised to show respect to my elders and people of authority. I say ‘yes sir’ to a police officer that is 22 years old. I’m three times his age but he is a person of authority.” Daniell’s attitude during his presentation was noticed by several commissioners including District 3 Commissioner Mike Mulcare. “I’ve worked with Eddie Daniell for a long time and he is a good man,” Mulcare said. “Eddie is a pillar of the community. He draws and deserves a lot of respect from the community because he gives so much respect. He is very respectful in his presentations and he gets a very serious listen-to. It’s our job to listen to people but it is certainly helpful to have positive, constructive dialogue from both sides.”
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:55:34 +0000
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