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By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment
Patrons can take advantage of the “Food for Fines” program at the Clinton Public Library from July 6 to July 11.
“Bring in an unexpired, nonperishable food item for each dollar you have in overdue fines, and your fines will be forgiven,” a press release said.
All donations will benefit the Anderson County Community Action Commission.
Clinton Public Library is located at 118 South Hicks Street in Clinton. Call (865) 457-0519 for more information about the program.
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By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment
In April 2008, the League of Women Voters of the United States announced its League position on immigration.
The League supports immigration policies that promote reunification of immediate families; meet the economic, business, and employment needs of the United States; and are responsive to those fleeing persecution or humanitarian crisis. The League supports federal comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship. The League agrees that the deportation of unauthorized immigrants who have no history of criminal activity is inappropriate.
What does the executive action on immigration mean?
The executive action taken by President Barack Obama on November 20, 2014, is consistent with the League’s position as are the 39 similar executive orders issued by every president over the last 60 years in orders that have affected as much as 40 percent of the undocumented immigrant population.
The League supports the president’s action and believes this action is within the executive authority of the president. [Read more…]
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By Trina Baughn 1 Comment
Last month, Oak Ridgers were hit with a water/sewer rate increase for the second time in nine months to pay for $15 million worth of debt that you were told (incorrectly) was issued to cover a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate. On Monday night, City Council is preparing to approve another $18 million in debt for the same cause, which will result in subsequent rate increases.
A statement I received this weekend from one resident sums up the frustrations that so many of you have been sharing with me: “Utility rates (water, sewer, electrical, trash pickup, etc.) keep going up; the city and county property ‘double’ taxation is simply too much. It so happens that our group of friends and us discuss the idea of moving to other less costly vicinities nearby more often than before. We would strongly suggest that our city government start budgeting our expenditures with the money we have.”
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By John Huotari Leave a Comment
A potential agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency settling fines for sewer system overflows in Oak Ridge could save the city several million dollars.
The fines during a five-year period ending September 2010 could have totaled between $4 million and $5 million, city officials said this week.
But under negotiations between the city and EPA, the penalties could be lowered to approximately $170,000, Oak Ridge City Attorney Ken Krushenski said Tuesday. The city would have to pay $102,000 in cash and might get a “dollar-for-dollar” credit for spending another $68,000 on a supplemental environmental project, or SEP.
