Seymour (Knoxville, Maryville, Sevierville: transplants, city hall, lease)

[On the Line]

Regarding utilities services, yes, there is county water so most developments are on that and not on wells. However, as far as I know, there still is not county sewer service but someone who lives there now should answer that definitively. The major stumbling block was, of course, the cost--however, we always heard that grant money would have been available to help fund a sewer system but it was only available to incorporated areas and Seymour was not. Incorporation (like zoning) was pretty much a dirty word around there because people did not want their taxes to increase. In our first neighborhood, after seven years we had to spend hundreds of dollars to repair a faulty drain field and add another one because what we had was inadequate. Later on we built a house in a then-new and exclusive development and we were required to pay extra for a double-size alternating drain field (has a control enables one side to "rest" for several months while you use the other half) because the developer had gotten special permission from the State of Tennessee to develop "bad land" which means the land would not perk. Believe me, once we moved away we made it a point to NEVER buy a house again that had a septic tank! Of course, lots of people live there for years and as long as they maintain their spetic tanks, they don't have a problem. I don't mean to sound negative because Seymour is a wonderful community and we enjoyed living there. I think it would be a nice place for retirement--there are so many things to see and do in the surrounding area, the climate is nice and the cost of living is very affordable and no state income tax is very nice--we miss that!

[Pres]

Originally Posted by On the Line

Regarding utilities services, yes, there is county water so most developments are on that and not on wells. However, as far as I know, there still is not county sewer service but someone who lives there now should answer that definitively. The major stumbling block was, of course, the cost--however, we always heard that grant money would have been available to help fund a sewer system but it was only available to incorporated areas and Seymour was not. Incorporation (like zoning) was pretty much a dirty word around there because people did not want their taxes to increase. In our first neighborhood, after seven years we had to spend hundreds of dollars to repair a faulty drain field and add another one because what we had was inadequate. Later on we built a house in a then-new and exclusive development and we were required to pay extra for a double-size alternating drain field (has a control enables one side to "rest" for several months while you use the other half) because the developer had gotten special permission from the State of Tennessee to develop "bad land" which means the land would not perk. Believe me, once we moved away we made it a point to NEVER buy a house again that had a septic tank! Of course, lots of people live there for years and as long as they maintain their spetic tanks, they don't have a problem. I don't mean to sound negative because Seymour is a wonderful community and we enjoyed living there. I think it would be a nice place for retirement--there are so many things to see and do in the surrounding area, the climate is nice and the cost of living is very affordable and no state income tax is very nice--we miss that!

I currently use a septic system so they are nothing new to me. I also experienced problems with our septic system shortly after moving in 21 years ago. Fixed it and have not had a problem since (keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on wood right now). If maintained they will last almost forever. As for taxes, I live in an area with high taxes, property as well, so I am looking for a place where that is not the case.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Pres

I currently use a septic system so they are nothing new to me. I also experienced problems with our septic system shortly after moving in 21 years ago. Fixed it and have not had a problem since (keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on wood right now). If maintained they will last almost forever. As for taxes, I live in an area with high taxes, property as well, so I am looking for a place where that is not the case.

I agree. If properly maintained and drained, a septic tank should last a long, long time. I think Seymour is a wonderful place, and I wouldn't let something like the lack of a public sewerage system keep me from living there. The low property taxes are definitely something to consider. I believe the Sevier County side of Seymour would have the lowest property taxes.

[tn_dreamin']

Thanks, yea the septic system wouldn't keep me from moving there. What part is the sevier side? I don't know the area as you can tell I'm trying to find out as much about it as I can. I can't wait to make a trip out there to see everything in person. All of you Tennessians seem very nice, I know I'm gonna love livin there.

[equescool]

I grew up in west Knoxville, and have lived in Seymour since 1987. Sewer has been run up Hwy 338/Boyd's Creek Rd, which runs from Hwy 441/Chapman Hwy to Hwy 66 going into Sevierville. Nice subdivisions now on Boyd's Creek.

There is a huge shopping center being built at Exit 407 [about 20 min away] by the same developers who built west Knoxville's Turkey Creek. This same group is developing another shopping center at the intersection of 441 and 168/John Sevier Hwy which is within a mile of the new WalMart supercenter. It appears we have been 'demographicked' <g>.

Right off I-40 exit 407 is also the TN Smokies ball park where great family entertainment is offered all summer long. We love to go there. It is about 20 min from our home.

I live off Boyd's Creek Rd, and this is a great area. My son attended Seymour High and is now getting his Master's degree at USF in Tampa. The education and the safety is good at the school. At a PTA meeting years ago a woman from FLA stood up and said, "You people have no idea how lucky you are~!" I agree.

I have horses, and it is still possible to ride for miles from where I live. I love it here, and hope you will, too. Good luck.

[tnlover]

We purchased a home in the Seymour area last Novemeber just off of Boyd's Creek Rd. in a subdivision with city water and sewer. We bought it as a second home We currently live in MN and plan to move to TN in 2 -3 years. In the meantime we plan to rent out the home so if you know of some good tenant propects, sent them our way.

We love the location because it is centrally located between Sevierville and Knoxville. A another plus is that we can avoid the traffic conjestion on HWY 66 by taking the lesser traveled roads to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. We also like the more "tempered" TN winters coming from MN! The property taxes in Sevier County are about 1/3 of what they are in MN. Also we pay state income tax in MN and sales tax on some things so we have no problem paying the sales tax in Sevier County in lieu of paying state income taxes.

We feel that we have definately found God's country in East TN as we have found the people to be so accomodating and caring and we enjoy the slower pace and the beauty that nature offers. Several of our baby boomer friends are also considering moving to East TN to enjoy the better (and more affordable) quality of living.

[Pres]

I have been on Google Earth looking at new subdivisions all over the Seymour area, one in particular has caught my eye so I have been trying to find the name of it if there is one. Either of you know the name of the new subdivision on North Pitner Road off of Boyd's Creek? Is this one that has county water and sewer? Looks very nice, do you know if it is full, Google Earth although updated this year is still kind of old images.

[equescool]

Originally Posted by Pres

I have been on Google Earth looking at new subdivisions all over the Seymour area, one in particular has caught my eye so I have been trying to find the name of it if there is one. Either of you know the name of the new subdivision on North Pitner Road off of Boyd's Creek? Is this one that has county water and sewer? Looks very nice, do you know if it is full, Google Earth although updated this year is still kind of old images.

That is probably High Meadow. I do not know if it is full. Look at Majestic Meadows just east of Temple Rd on down Boyd's Creek Rd. It has plenty of lots left and very nice homes. East of it there is one with sidewalks and a pool for homeowners.

[tn_dreamin']

Thanks everybody for all the info. I'm really liking what I see about Seymour, it sounds exactly like the place I want to live in. tnlover I am going to be needing a rental house in June so I might be contacting you. Do any of you have pictures..?

[gailli]

I recently moved to Seymour from Florida and I love it here. There are rentals listed at the Mountain Press website under classifieds, some have pics also. Seymour is so friendly and so convenient to everything. You can go to Knoxville or Sevierville in just a short trip and Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Not to mention the Sevier county resident benefits where you can get into a lot of the shows free or for huge discounts. We have been to almost all of them and we are going in April to Pigeon Forge and see Lee Greenwood at a huge discount also. I am really glad I picked Seymour and I know you will love it here.