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Speakers urge protection for Enterprise South Nature Park and call for action on homelessness and groceries tax
Summary
During public comment, speakers said more than 9,000 people signed a petition to protect Enterprise South Nature Park from deed changes, urged the city to develop supportive housing to meet a reported 12% regional rise in homelessness, and called on the city to press the state to abolish the grocery tax and to raise the city minimum wage to $25.
Three members of the public addressed the Chattanooga City Council Nov. 4 during the public‑comment portion, raising conservation, housing and labor issues.
Hadrian Turner, co‑founder of Save Enterprise South Nature Park, said the group has collected "over 9,000 signatures" opposing any lifting of deed restrictions at Enterprise South and urged the city to protect parkland being discussed for a land swap. "Enterprise South Nature Park is a beloved recreational and community resource and wildlife refuge that should be preserved in its current state for future generations," Turner said, warning that publicly circulated maps include trails such as the Atlas Trail and Sunshine Trail in the area being discussed.
Anna Golode, a District 8 resident, said regional homelessness has worsened: "As of January 2025 the 11‑county Southeast Tennessee region saw a 12% increase in homelessness," she told the council and asked what the city's plan for supportive housing and emergency shelter is as winter approaches.
Steven Russell, a wastewater‑department employee and SEIU Local 205 member, urged the council to press state legislators to remove Tennessee's grocery tax and called for the city to raise its minimum wage to $25 per hour, citing the cost-of-living pressures his union says workers face.
Why it matters: Enterprise South is a county park with trails used by many residents; any deed restrictions or land swaps that affect park acreage would affect recreation and habitat. Homelessness and basic‑goods taxation are ongoing regional policy concerns with local implications for housing, social services and cost of living.
What’s next: Council acknowledged the public comments; county and city processes for any land‑use or deed changes would include additional public notice. Council members planning follow-ups included scheduling public meetings and engaging with county officials and staff to clarify next steps.
