Oak Ridge Today

Council passes no-tax-increase budget

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Oak Ridge City Council Budget Meeting

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the municipal budget, which is not expected to raise property taxes, during a second and final reading Tuesday evening.

The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a budget that does not raise the property tax rate in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The budget provides $50,000 more for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce than Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson had requested, and it gives city employees a 1 percent pay raise.

Council members deferred a request from the Oak Ridge Board of Education to match $50,000 in spending for one of two new school resource officers at Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools. City officials estimated the cost per SRO is about double the school system’s request, or more than $100,000 per year per officer, when the cost of a police car is included. [Read more…]

With renovations under way, hundreds shop at Alexander Inn estate sale

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Alexander Inn Estate Sale

Hundreds of people lined up at the Alexander Inn on Saturday for an estate sale, an unprecedented opportunity to buy items ranging from bed frames and Bibles to chairs and chandeliers, before the vacant, historic hotel is converted into an assisted living center. (Photo by Don Hunnicutt)

Renovations have started at the historic Alexander Inn, and on Saturday, hundreds of people shopped at an estate sale at the vacant, two-story hotel, taking advantage of an unprecedented opportunity to buy items from the 1940s to the 1980s, including bed frames and Bibles, chairs and chandeliers, and dishes and dressers.

Halfway through the three-hour sale, a project executive estimated that more than 500 people had attended. At one point, the line of people waiting to get in stretched from the hotel, located on East Madison Road, to Kentucky Avenue, said Rick Dover, general manager of Family Pride, which has proposed converting the dilapidated hotel into an assisted living center. [Read more…]

Council considers budget tonight

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Oak Ridge City Council Budget Meeting

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the municipal budget, which is not expected to raise property taxes, during a second and final reading Tuesday evening.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the municipal budget on second and final reading tonight.

If approved, the budget would not raise property taxes, but it would give employees a 1 percent pay raise and add another $50,000 for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce contract.

Tonight’s meeting also includes a presentation of the Oak Ridge Schools’ budget, which was approved on second and final reading on Thursday. [Read more…]

City enters fifth week of brush pickup

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The schedule for the fifth week of brush pickup is as follows:

  • Monday, May 27— Holiday
  • Tuesday, May 28— Robertsville Road and side streets from Melbourne Road to Louisiana Avenue, Bradley Avenue, East Bryn Mawr Circle, West Bryn Mawr Circle, Bermuda Road and all side streets, Salem Road and side streets, Sheridan Circle and Place, South Seneca Road. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge swimming pool open this weekend

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The Oak Ridge Municipal Swimming Pool will be open May 25, 26, 27, and June 1 and 2, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The pool will open full time June 5.

For more information, call the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit the website at www.orrecparks.org.

TVC Summit next week includes House majority leader

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Eric Cantor

Eric Cantor

Submitted

Business, community, and political leaders and senior decision-makers will convene at the 2013 Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit next week to discuss issues that are critical to the economic engine of the Tennessee Valley, a press release said.

Hosted by Third District Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, the two-day meeting themed “Securing America’s Future” will focus on energy and environment, innovation and entrepreneurism, public and private partnerships, and advanced manufacturing, the release said.

The Summit will be held at the Y-12 National Security Complex’s New Hope Center in Oak Ridge on May 29-30. [Read more…]

Senior Center has meet and greet Tuesday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center has a meet-and-greet on Tuesday evening to discuss programming ideas for senior citizens.

The meeting is in Room 58 at the Senior Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. [Read more…]

Brush pickup schedule for fourth week

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The fourth week of the brush pickup schedule is as follows:

  • Monday, May 20— West Outer Drive and side streets from Illinois Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue [Read more…]

Council considers budget amendments, raises spending for Chamber of Commerce

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Oak Ridge City Council Budget Meeting

The Oak Ridge City Council considers a series of potential budget amendments during a special meeting Thursday.

They were scheduled to consider more than a dozen budget amendments Thursday, but Oak Ridge City Council members approved only one that could immediately affect spending. It was a recommendation to spend another $50,000 on the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce contract.

The proposal will be considered by the City Council during the second and final budget reading on May 28. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

During a special four-hour meeting Thursday, Council rejected other proposals to increase spending on capital maintenance by $250,000 and cut spending on travel. Members asked for further study on a recommendation to consider relocating Fire Station No. 2 in east Oak Ridge to Melton Lake Drive. [Read more…]

New China Palace waterfront lease extended through Labor Day

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New China Palace Restaurant

The New China Palace on Melton Lake Drive has been granted a three-month lease extension on this city-owned waterfront site through Labor Day. The restaurant plans to re-open later this year on Central Avenue.

The New China Palace restaurant has been given a three-month lease extension that will allow it to stay on the Oak Ridge waterfront through Labor Day.

It’s expected to be the last lease extension for New China Palace at the city-owned property at Melton Lake Park. The restaurant received one other three-month extension that started in March and runs through the end of May.

The restaurant plans to re-open later this year at the former Village Restaurant property on Central Avenue.

On Thursday, Oak Ridge Economic Development Consultant Ray Evans said Tony Cappiello, who owns the Central Avenue property, has a final architectural review for the proposed new restaurant today and could submit site plans on Monday. [Read more…]

Council to consider budget amendments in special meeting Thursday

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

The Oak Ridge City Council could consider a dozen budget amendments Thursday evening that were postponed on Monday, a series of proposals that could increase spending in some areas or cut it in others.

Nine of the amendments have been proposed by Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn, and three were recommended by Council member Chuck Hope.

Baughn’s proposals could reduce spending on municipal travel by 20 percent, the Oak Ridge Public Library by roughly $950,000, and Recreation and Parks Department funding by 10 percent, among other things.

Hope’s proposals would add $500,000 funding in the city’s general fund for spending in three areas: economic development, capital maintenance, and to study the relocation of Fire Station No. 2 to Melton Lake Drive. [Read more…]

Council members clash over Baughn’s budget-cutting proposals

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Charlie Hensley

Charlie Hensley

Several Oak Ridge City Council members clashed on Monday as they debated a few last-minute proposals to reduce city spending in some areas and increase it in others.

Most of the debate centered on proposals submitted by Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn. She asked the City Council to consider nine budget-cutting proposals and consider selling the Centennial Golf Course and the property used by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, among other things.

Baughn said she represents the citizens of Oak Ridge and is trying to find the highest and best use of city-owned property. She has previously said she would like to lower the property tax rate and has advocated for a more limited government. [Read more…]