Oak Ridge Archives - Page 7 of 136

Fall leaf pickup starts Monday

Posted at 1:04 pm November 21, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The annual citywide leaf pickup program will begin Monday, November 22. The program is starting a week earlier in order to “pick up the influx of leaves that have recently fallen,” a press release said.

The pickup is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible, the press release said.

“Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions, resident participation, and the amount of leaves needed to be picked up,” the release said.

The following guidelines will help make the leaf pickup process easier for Waste Connections crews and home owners, the press release said:

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City receives grant for water plant landslide

Posted at 7:29 pm November 8, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Pictured above is the landslide next to the access road to the Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant on Pine Ridge, above the Y-12 National Security Complex, on Saturday night, February 23, 2019. (File photo courtesy CNS Y-12)

The City of Oak Ridge has received a $17,389 grant to cover some costs associated with a landslide at the access road to the water treatment plant above the Y-12 National Security Complex in 2019.

The estimated costs of the repairs are $384,444, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Patrick Berge said in a memo to City Manager Mark Watson.

The city began talking to the Federal Emergency Management Agency immediately after the landslide, and the discussions included potential future reimbursements, Berge said. The $17,389 partial reimbursement is through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

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City to present design for converting railroad to trail

Posted at 11:53 am November 3, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

*The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)*

The City of Oak Ridge continues to work on a Rails to Trails project that has been planned for years and will convert 4.6 miles of unused railroad into a greenway for walkers, runners, and bicyclists.

The city will have a drop-in public meeting about the project from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 10, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym. The trail design and next steps will be presented, and the city will seek input from residents. Masks are encouraged at the meeting, the city said.

The greenway along the former CSX railroad will extend from east Oak Ridge past Jefferson Middle School to Y-12 National Security Complex. It will start at Elza Gate at the Oak Ridge Turnpike; run along Belgrade Road, Warehouse Road, Fairbanks Road, and Lafayette Drive; and cross South Illinois Avenue to the Y-12 National Security Complex entrance on Scarboro Road.

â€œThe greenway system brings parkland nearer to all Oak Ridge citizens,â€ Recreation and Parks Director Jon Hetrick said. â€œIt provides opportunity for motor-less commuting, enjoyable physical exercise, learning experiences about wildlife, and connections to parks, schools, and shopping areas.â€

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City hosts Monster Mash Bash Halloween on Thursday

Posted at 4:05 pm October 27, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host Monster Mash Bash, a citywide Halloween event, on Thursday evening. Monster Mash Bash is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 28.

“This yearâ€™s event will be a literal ‘walk in the park’ beginning between the Oak Ridge Civic Center and the Senior Center on the west side parking area and looping through the Oak Ridge Civic Center Plaza back to the west parking lot,” a press release said. “Bissell Park and the parking lots will close at 2 p.m. and should be vacated at that time. This is to allow our sponsors and vendors to finish getting ready for the event. Parking in the west parking lot in front of the Senior Center will fill first, then the east parking lot by the Library, secondly.”

Event participants will be able to enjoy Halloween scenes, and children ages 4 years to 4th grade will receive treats throughout the park trail and may participate in a stamped scavenger hunt, the press release said. All families wishing to attend this free event will need to register at Eventbrite.com to help ensure there are enough treats and goodies to go around, the release said.

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Unclear how City of Oak Ridge affected by president’s vaccination mandate

Posted at 5:50 pm September 21, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The City of Oak Ridge does not currently require its employees or residents to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a state law passed this year, a municipal attorney said Tuesday.

But it’s not clear if that state law could be in conflict with a vaccination or testing mandate that President Joe Biden announced this month.

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*The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)*

The City of Oak Ridge does not currently require its employees or residents to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a state law passed this year, a municipal attorney said Tuesday.

That state law, Senate Bill 187 and House Bill 13 (Public Chapter 513), bars the city from COVID-19 vaccination requirements, said Alexander J. Cramer, staff attorney in the City of Oak Ridge Legal Department.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The City of Oak Ridge does not currently require its employees or residents to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a state law passed this year, a municipal attorney said Tuesday.

But it’s not clear if that state law could be in conflict with a vaccination or testing mandate that President Joe Biden announced this month.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member.

Already a member? Sign in here.

Not a member? Subscribe here:

Basic

Pro

Temporary

Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

We also haveÂ advanced subscription options. You can see themÂ here.

We also acceptÂ donations. You can donateÂ here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.

Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

*The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)*

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the purchase of up to about $60,000 worth of chlorine briquettes for the city’s outdoor pool on Providence Road this evening (Monday, July 12). Approval of the purchase would ensure that the large, unique pool can continue operating past mid-July, according to the city.

The purchase of the chlorine became controversial after Council member Rick Chinn, who is mayor pro tem (like a vice mayor), voted against the purchase of the briquettes last month. Chinn said he did not want to spend any more money on the pool. Residents and pool users responded with outrage, with hundreds of comments posted to social media. Some pledged to oppose Chinn’s re-election to Council next year.

Last month’s vote was for a sole-source purchase that hadn’t been released for a bid, possibly because the city’s supplier, Duffield Aquatics, had been identified as the sole provider in the region. The city uses Pulsar chlorinating briquettes supplied by Duffield Aquatics.

The sole-source purchase meant that last month’s vote required a unanimous vote. So, Chinn’s vote against the purchase meant it wasn’t approved.

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