Oak Ridge Today

Waste Connections announces new holiday schedule for 2016

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Waste Connections Incorporated has announced significant changes to its holiday pick-up schedule of garbage and recyclables within the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Effective January 1, 2016, the only holidays that Waste Connections will be closed and not servicing the residents of Oak Ridge will be on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If one of these holidays falls on a weekend, then there will be no service day change. If the holiday falls during the week, then refuse and recyclables will be picked up one day later. [Read more…]

New ORHS traffic signal starts operating Wednesday

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ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center will start operating on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new traffic light in front of Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike will start operating on Wednesday, December 30.

The stoplight has been operating in a temporary, flashing mode since the week of December 14.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The Oak Ridge City Council approved a contract to install the stoplight in a 4-3 vote in April. [Read more…]

Mission of Hope: Youth Board buys more than $1,500 worth of Christmas gifts for area children

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Mission-Hope-Oak-Ridge-Youth-Advisory-Board-December-2015

Pictured above from left to right in front are Brent Robinson, Lucas Dunning, and Lewis Wang; in the second row are Jas Jakowski, Hannah Wilder, Audrey Bufton, Shichen Zhang, Ashley Riedy, Lauren Collier, Sam Sepulveda, Candace Pang, Shreyank Patel, Curtis Rookard; and in back are Hannah Oran, Kolton Reedy, Kevin Reedy, Alexis Palau, Kristina Reed, Macy Barclay, Joel Turner, Christian Thompson, Peter Magill, Rebecca Kolling, and Stella Powell. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board members recently voted to spend time and money Christmas shopping at Kmart for area children through Mission of Hope.

The board raises funds at various events throughout the year to make this possible. In total, the board spent more than $1,500 on gifts.

“The YAB would like to encourage other student groups and families to consider holiday projects that help those in need, while also reminding everyone to shop in Oak Ridge this holiday season!” a press release said. [Read more…]

City to discuss power interruptions in east Oak Ridge on Monday

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

Oak Ridge municipal staff members will discuss short power interruptions, or “blinks,” that have occurred in parts of east Oak Ridge in the past weeks during an informal meeting on Monday.

The meeting is scheduled from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, December 21, at the Centennial Golf Course Clubhouse.

“The purpose of the meeting will be to make information available to residents and other interested parties regarding a series of short power interruptions, or blinks, which have been occurring in the area for the last several weeks,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The areas that have been affected include: [Read more…]

City Council to discuss state legislative agenda with legislators on Tuesday

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The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss the state legislative agenda for 2016 with Tennessee legislators on Tuesday.

The working lunch is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room.

Oak Ridge Animal Shelter closed Dec. 24-26, re-opens Dec. 29

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will be closed December 24-26 and will re-open December 29.

Council approves $325,000 transfer for operations at Centennial Golf Course

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Centennial Golf Course Dec 10, 2015

The Tennessee Centennial Golf Course is pictured above in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:50 a.m. Dec. 15.

Despite some opposition, the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday approved a $325,000 transfer for operations at Tennessee Centennial Golf Course.

About $225,000 of the transfer, a cash infusion, would be for outstanding accounts payable, including for expenses that include clothing in the pro shop, a management fee, fertilizer, and irrigation costs. Another $100,000 is operational funding for the winter, including maintenance of the greens.

It’s the first non-debt related transfer from the city’s General Fund to the Golf Course Fund since the golf course was built, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. Separately, the city still owes about $3 million in debt-related bond payments on the golf course. It’s expected to be paid off in five years.

Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn cast the only vote against the operating transfer. All six of the other City Council members voted “yes.” [Read more…]

City buys blighted home that burned in July on Waddell Circle

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147-Waddell-Circle

The City of Oak Ridge purchased 147 Waddell Circle, which had a fire in July, using Community Development Block Grants. The property, which sustained more than 75 percent fire damage, is slated for immediate demolition. It was purchased from an owner-occupant who did not have the means to remove the structure, officials said. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge has purchased a home that burned in July on Waddell Circle.

The blighted property at 147 Waddell Circle was purchased through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, program. It is slated for immediate demolition, officials said.

The home, which sustained more than 75 percent fire damage, was purchased from an owner occupant who did not have the means to remove the structure, the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

Smith named deputy police chief

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Jim Akagi and Robin Smith

Former Captain Robin Smith, right, has been promoted to deputy chief of the Oak Ridge Police Department. Smith is pictured above with ORPD Chief Jim Akagi. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Former Captain Robin Smith has been promoted to deputy chief of the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Smith was promoted on November 8. City officials said he will still oversee the ORPD Patrol Division and SWAT Team.

“He is a valuable member of the ORPD executive and senior leadership teams,” the City of Oak Ridge said of Smith. “Both the ORPD and the Oak Ridge community are very fortunate to have him as a deputy chief, and look forward to his leadership and talent in improving public safety for all of the great Oak Ridge citizens.” [Read more…]

Main Street project won’t close Tuesday; closing could be in January

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Neil Wilson of RealtyLink at Rise and Shine on Nov. 3, 2015

Neil Wilson, left, principal of RealtyLink, gives an update on the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall at an Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Rise and Shine at TNBank on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15.

The new company leading the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall won’t close on the property on Tuesday, and the closing could be pushed into January, officials said this month.

But it’s nothing to be concerned about, one official said Monday, adding that there are many pre-closing activities to accomplish in a short period of time, some in series.

“There have been no holdups, just a lot to do,” said Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge. “As an example, a subdivision plat has to be approved by the Planning Commission prior to closing. In order for the plat to be prepared, the property had to be re-surveyed. The new survey stakes are very apparent around the property. The plat was submitted yesterday (Monday). It will likely go before the Planning Commission at its meeting on January 7.”

Evans said RealtyLink has had geotechnical staff on site doing core borings during the past few weeks.

“In addition, they have been working on completing the environmental work,” he said.

Officials said RealtyLink and its contractor remain committed to having stores open for seven of the new tenants for the 2016 Christmas season. [Read more…]

City moving to radar-based systems to detect vehicles at stoplights

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Stoplight-Radar-Detection-Dec-11-2015

Radar-based traffic detectors can replace in-pavement loops used to detect vehicles at stoplights, and the City of Oak Ridge has long-term plans to move to the radar systems. Above is a radar detector at Oak Ridge Turnpike and West Main Street, in front of Walgreen’s, on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Radar-based traffic detectors at six intersections in Oak Ridge can replace in-pavement loops used to detect vehicles at stoplights, and the city has long-term plans to move to the radar-based systems.

The detectors will be installed on the new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School. They are also included in a plan to improve two intersections on Oak Ridge Turnpike, one at South Tulane Avenue and the other at East Division Road/Tennyson Road.

“We have kind of adopted them because they just work,” said Jon van Eek, power utilization program supervisor in the Oak Ridge Electric Department.

The city has previously tried video detection systems and microwave systems. The video systems did not work well in heavy rain and fog, and had some angle of light issues, according to van Eek and Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs.

“It was not reliable,” van Eek said Friday. [Read more…]

New stoplight at ORHS could start flashing next week, begin operating Dec. 30

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ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center could start flashing next week and begin operating on Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike could start flashing next week and begin operating on December 30, a city official said. The new stoplight is between Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Civic Center.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The light poles and power have been installed, but the lights themselves still need to be hung and work on signs for the traffic light is under way. [Read more…]