Oak Ridge Today

Special Council meeting tonight on school debt, EPA settlement

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Oak Ridge City Council tonight will discuss an agreement that could resolve a months-old dispute with the School Board over debt payments for the city’s $65 million high school renovation.

At issue is the amount of money the Oak Ridge school system should transfer to the city to help cover the payments. The dispute primarily centers on the use of money raised by a half-cent sales tax increase approved by Anderson County voters in 2006.

One school board member has argued that the schools have overpaid the city by $1.4 million, while others contend that the school system owes the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and must pay it.

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Council approves water, sewer rate hikes

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Oak Ridge City Council

The Oak Ridge City Council unanimously approves water and sewer rate increases during a Monday night meeting. Pictured above from left are Council members Anne Garcia Garland, Ellen Smith, Chuck Hope, Mayor Tom Beehan, and Council member Jane Miller.

After several months of discussion, the Oak Ridge City Council unanimously approved significant water and sewer rate increases during a brief meeting Monday.

Information presented by the city showed rates could rise between 28 percent to 35 percent, depending upon a variety of factors, including the total number of gallons used. There will be a minimum monthly increase of $7 for the first 2,000 gallons of water and sewer, but the increases will be larger for bigger customers.

The first phase of the higher rates goes into effect May 1, and they will rise again in 2013.

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Baughn calls for lower taxes, debt ceiling

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

In her first run for an elected office, Oak Ridge City Council candidate Trina Baughn said she would like to cap the city’s debt, cut the property tax rate, and help attract industry.

Baughn, a 38-year-old communications professional and consultant, said the city ought to have a debt ceiling and debt reduction plan.

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Council OKs parking changes, defers water rate increases

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday approved parking ordinance changes that prohibit parking on curbs and sidewalks, among other things, and members also postponed a vote on potentially significant increases in water and sewer rates.

The Council also voted 6-0 to approve $217,000 worth of projects—including additional sidewalks alongside busy roads—that are designed to make Oak Ridge safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The seven projects will be funded with money collected from citations issued by four local red-light and traffic camera systems.

Council postponed a decision on the water and sewer rate increases until a special meeting tentatively scheduled for April 16. The total monthly water and sewer rate increases could range from 28 percent to 35 percent, depending upon a variety of factors, including the number of total gallons used.

There would be a minimum monthly increase of $7 for the first 2,000 gallons of water and sewer, but the increases could be much larger for bigger customers.

The first phase of the rate increases would go into effect May 1, and the rates would rise again in 2013.

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