Oak Ridge Today

International Friendship Bell closed as city assesses damage to housing structure

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Friendship Bell Repairs

A symbol of the friendship between Oak Ridge and Japan, the 20-year-old Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park was closed in December to allow the city to make repairs to the structure holding up the bell.

The International Friendship Bell, located in Oak Ridge’s A.K. Bissell Park, has been closed in order to assess damage to the housing structure in which the bell is displayed. A routine inspection by city staff late last year revealed cracking in the wooden support columns. Temporary fencing has been placed around the structure; additional fencing and signage will be installed this week in order to restrict direct access to the bell.

The structure housing the bell is a unique, open, timber-frame structure with six main timbers measuring approximately 12” square supporting the entire frame. A preliminary inspection by a local engineering firm has revealed significant wood root and deterioration to the structure. In addition, a large crack has developed in the stone wall supporting one of the columns at the south end of the bell structure. [Read more…]

ORCVB, Welcome Center closed until noon Wednesday for nearby construction work

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau and Welcome Center will be closed until noon Wednesday because of a water outage scheduled by the city and because the parking lot will be blocked for utility work for the nearby Kroger Marketplace shopping center.

Oak Ridge officials have announced that a short stretch of Robertsville Road between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Raleigh Road will be closed from Wednesday to Friday for the underground utility work. The entrance to ORCVB is in that road section.

The street closure is subject to weather that could cause a delay in the work, a city press release said.

Part of Robertsville Road to close Wed.-Fri. for Kroger utility work

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A short stretch of Robertsville Road will be closed from Wednesday to Friday this week for underground utility work for the new Kroger Marketplace shopping center.

The work will be done on Robertsville Road between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Raleigh Road. The street closure is subject to weather that could cause a delay in the work, a city press release said.

“No through traffic will be permitted on this portion of Robertsville Road during the closure,” the release said. “Local traffic will be permitted to access the Unitarian Church, and the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Heritage and Preservation Association from the Robertsville Road/Raleigh Road intersection. Motorists should use caution while traveling near the closure area.”

Questions or comments concerning this closure can be directed to the Oak Ridge City Engineer at (865) 425- 1807. Visit www.oakridgetn.gov for more information.

Weekly update: Sewer rehabilitation work continues

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the city of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information.

All construction work is subject to change based on such unknowns as weather, equipment, and access issues, the press release said. The construction work schedule for the week beginning Feb. 10 is as follows: [Read more…]

Career Coach Computer Center at Public Library on March 4

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library Career Coach

Submitted

Are you looking for work? Do you need help with your resume? Online applications? Are you worried you don’t know where to find the most recent job listings?

The Career Coach, sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Employment Security Division, will be coming to the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot for one more session, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4. Come by anytime during those hours and receive job assistance. With access to their state-of-the-art computer workstations and well-trained team, you can successfully navigate online job searching and get on track to find the job you want. [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the city of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]

Two road closures this week for sewer rehab work

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Two roads will be temporarily closed this week so three sewer lines can be replaced.

The work is part of a project to repair Oak Ridge’s gravity wastewater collection system. It’s being done by Hurst Construction LLC under a contract with the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

On Monday and Tuesday, West Arrowwood Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Arkansas Avenue, South Alabama Road, Cedar Road, and California Avenue may be used as detours. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge municipal offices open late on Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge municipal offices will open late on Wednesday because of the weather.

The offices will open at 1 p.m. Wednesday, the city said in a statement.

“Per the city’s inclement weather policy, ‘essential/critical employees’ should report according to their departmental directives,” the statement said.

Oak Ridge warns of high energy bills

Posted at
By 38 Comments

Submitted

The Oak Ridge Electric Department is warning its customers to expect higher utility bills for the next two months. According to Jack Suggs, Oak Ridge electric director, bills for power used in December are now in the mail, and bills for January will be coming out in a few weeks. He expects these bills will be difficult for many customers.

The National Weather Service calculates an index called “degree days of heating,” which is used as an indication of how cold the weather is over the course of a month. The higher the value of the number, the greater difference between the outside temperature and a properly heated home.

“Higher degree days of heating means that the heating system in a customer’s home has to work harder to keep the home warm,” Suggs said. December 2013 had nearly twice the degree days of heating as November, and January is looking to be significantly higher than that. [Read more…]

City manager staying in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Mark Watson, Tom Beehan, and Ken Krushenski

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson is pictured at center above. Also pictured are Mayor Tom Beehan, left, and City Attorney Ken Krushenski.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will not be moving to Texas for a job in Pearland, near Houston.

In December, Pearland officials said Watson was one of four finalists who could replace the city’s former manager, Bill Eisen, who retired at the end of December after 12 years.

But Watson—who was in Pearland for interviews, tours, and staff briefings this past weekend—told Oak Ridge City Council members at the beginning of a Monday night work session that he is staying in the Secret City.

He said the Pearland City Council could select a new city manager during a Monday night meeting, and members could pick Clay Pearson of Novi, Mich. Watson said the competition was tough. [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes was scheduled to continue this week.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the city of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge: Water meter risers, lids disappearing

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge has received numerous reports of cast iron water meter box risers and lids disappearing from various properties throughout the city. These lids and risers are city- owned property. Without these items in place, water meters could freeze and leave customers without water; therefore, creating an issue for city crews to repair. It also creates a safety hazard for pedestrians with the possibility of stepping in the exposed meter box and being injured. They are very costly to replace, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge municipal staff is asking area residents and the general public for their assistance, the press release said. No one should be removing these lids except city crews and they will be in an easily identifiable by their City of Oak Ridge vehicle. If you see any unusual activity on city streets or around buildings including anyone removing lids or metal covers from city-owned property, call the Oak Ridge Police Department immediately at (865) 425-4399.

Questions or comments can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425- 1875.