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Crowe appointed mayor of Oliver Springs

Posted at 4:44 pm March 21, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Meeting in their regular session on Thursday, the Oliver Springs Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 4-2 to appoint Cecil Crowe as the interim mayor, succeeding Jerry Vann, who abruptly resigned the post last month due to health issues.

Crowe will serve as Oliver Springs mayor until the next municipal election. He beat out Vice Mayor Omer Cox—who had served as interim mayor upon Vann’s resignation—and Jason Stillner to succeed Vann.

In his pitch to Council members, Crowe said his priorities include working with the Board on a five-year strategic plan for the city, improving revenue streams, and beautifying Oliver Springs so that not only will be it more enticing to visitors but also so that the people who live and work there can take more pride in their community.

Crowe is retired and says that will allow him time to focus on his mayoral duties. Crowe is also a member of the Oliver Springs Historical Society.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: Cecil Crowe, Jason Stillner, Jerry Vann, mayor, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Historical Society, Omer Cox

Oliver Springs accepting applications for mayor

Posted at 5:05 pm March 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oliver Springs City Building

The Oliver Springs City Building is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oliver Springs)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs Board of Aldermen—the Town Council—met Thursday night for the first time since Mayor Jerry Vann surprised everyone by announcing his resignation.

Vice Mayor Omer Cox is serving as mayor on an interim basis, and it is not clear yet if he wants to have the “interim” tag removed and be considered as Vann’s successor until the next election.

The Board took no action on the matter on Thursday night, instead deciding to have interested applicants submit their resumes to City Manager Becky Campbell by the end of the business day on Monday, March 14. That will give the Aldermen a chance to review the candidates before their next meeting on Thursday, March 17, when a decision could be made. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: Becky Campbell, Jerry Vann, mayor, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Board of Alderman, Omer Cox, Town Council

Vann abruptly resigns as Oliver Springs mayor

Posted at 11:41 am February 22, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

In a move that caught town officials by surprise, Oliver Springs Mayor Jerry Vann abruptly resigned Thursday night, shortly after the Town Council’s meeting began.

Just after the roll was called, Vann addressed the Council and others in attendance, telling them that after speaking with doctor and his family he has decided to resign due to health concerns.

After his message, Vann shook the hands of his fellow Council members, the city manager, and the city judge and left the Council meeting room. Officials told our partners at BB-TV that the announcement caught them by surprise.

The Council will have to appoint someone to serve as mayor through the next municipal election.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oliver Springs Tagged With: Jerry Vann, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs mayor, Town Council

Tax rate increases, changes in AC, Clinton, Oliver Springs, RC, Rocky Top

Posted at 3:59 pm July 24, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Increases in the property tax rate have been approved or are anticipated in budgets that have already passed in Anderson County, Clinton, Oliver Springs, Roane County, and Rocky Top.

Those increases are in addition to the increases already expected because of a drop in overall property assessments in Anderson and Roane counties. The 4 percent drop in Anderson County and 3.47 percent decline in Roane County mean the tax-neutral rate—the rate meant to bring in the same amount of revenues after a reappraisal as before—goes up.

The highest tax increase, which includes a 6-cent change in the certified tax rate after five-year reappraisals, is 40 cents. That’s in Rocky Top, where the new tax rate is $2 per $100 of assessed value.

The lowest so far is in Anderson County, where county commissioners have approved a 10-cent increase for 2 percent pay raises for school and county employees. That’s in addition to the roughly 16-cent increase in the tax-neutral, or certified, tax rate.

Oak Ridge will be the last of those half-dozen governments to consider any changes to the tax-neutral rate. In Oak Ridge, the rate has been calculated at $2.52, up 13 cents from the current $2.39.

Oak Ridge could also be the only one of those half-dozen governments that doesn’t add a tax rate increase to this year’s higher tax-neutral rate. So far, it appears that a majority of Oak Ridge City Council members could support the $2.52 rate, although two Council members, Trina Baughn and Rick Chinn, have advocated for a reduction, possibly by two cents to $2.50.

Here is information on the increases or potential increases: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Clinton, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Roane County, Rocky Top, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Schools, budget, certified tax rate, Clinton, Gail Cook, Oak Ridge City Council, Oliver Springs, pay raises, property assessments, property tax rate, property tax rate increase, reappraisals, Roane County, Rocky Top, Ron Woody, tax rate, tax rate increases, tax-neutral rate, Tyler Mayes

BBB: OS water, sewer rate hike likely

Posted at 11:08 am May 22, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs Town Council met Thursday night in regular session and then held a budget workshop. Our partners at BBB-TV report that the main topic at the workshop was how much of an increase in water and sewer rates will be necessary to offset a projected shortfall of almost $248,000 in the city’s Water and Sewer Department.

The city has already borrowed some $2.5 million to pay for repairs to the city’s aging sewer plant as mandated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and repaying that loan led to much of the projected shortfall.

During the workshop, officials seemed to indicate that a 15 percent hike will be needed this year, but that will not be enough to meet future needs. Keeping the city’s Water and Sewer department going could require 2 percent to 3 percent rate hikes each year for the next several years.

No votes were taken during Thursday’s work session. The Oliver Springs Water Board will meet again on June 4 and could take some action at that time.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oliver Springs Tagged With: budget, budget workshop, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Town Council, Oliver Springs Water Board, rate hiks, repairs, sewer plant, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Water and Sewer Department, water and sewer rates

Planning Commission considers revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:42 pm April 18, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider a revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, during a Thursday meeting.

It’s a planned unit development, or PUD, master plan.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs Tagged With: Main Street—Oak Ridge, master plan, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, planned unit development, PUD

OS Council takes interim tag off Campbell

Posted at 1:48 pm March 20, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs City Council voted unanimously Thursday to take the interim tag off of City Manager Becky Campbell’s title and install her in that position on a full-time basis. She will be paid slightly more than the previous city manager, whom she replaced in October of 2014.

Campbell, who has been an Oliver Springs employee for almost 18 years, will not be subject to the standard 90-day probationary period and, according to our partners at BBB-TV, would not have accepted the job had that been part of the deal.

The Council also voted to hire Lisa Relford as Campbell’s assistant. Relford currently serves as a dispatcher for the Oliver Springs Police Department.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oliver Springs Tagged With: Becky Campbell, city manager, Lisa Relford, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs City Council

BBB: City Manager Treece resigns in OS

Posted at 8:41 am November 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tina Treece

Tina Treece (Photo by BBB-TV)

Information from WYSH Radio

According to our partners at BBB-TV, Oliver Springs City Manager Tina Treece has announced that she is resigning after more than two years on the job.

Treece notified city leaders of her intention to step down on Wednesday, the day after the Tuesday, November 4, election. But BBB said it wasn’t clear if the resignation was because of the election.

Treece has been in her position since early 2012, when she replaced David Bolling, who left the city for a similar job in Maine. Bolling, who is also a former Anderson County commissioner, has since returned to Tennessee as city manager in Kingston.

Filed Under: Government, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: city manager, David Bolling, Oliver Springs, resignation, Tina Treece

Safety, health, business manager running for OS Town Council

Posted at 10:52 am October 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Nathan Benson

Nathan Benson

OLIVER SPRINGS—Nathan Benson of Oliver Springs is running for Oliver Springs alderman in Ward 4 in the November 4 municipal election.

Benson and his wife Jennifer (Wright) Benson graduated from Oliver Springs High School in 2001. They have two children named Riley and Addison Benson that attend Norwood Middle and Elementary schools.

Benson served in the Tennessee Army National Guard 278th Armored Calvary Regiment as a calvary scout after graduating from high school. During his six years in the service, he was deployed to Iraq as a sergeant assigned to the Regimental Protective Services Detail.

Benson is now employed with Canberra Industries in Oak Ridge as the safety, health, and business improvement manager, a press release said. He has been employed with them for nearly 12 years, including his leave of absence to serve overseas. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, accountability, alderman, Beech Park Baptist Church, calvary scout, Canberra Industries, growth, growth planning, Industrial Hygiene, Iraq, Jennifer Benson, manager, Nathan Benson, November 4 municipal election, occupational health and safety, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Planning Commission, safety health and business improvement, Tennessee Army National Guard, transparency, Ward 4

Early voting begins Wednesday, October 15

Posted at 2:42 am October 15, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Vote Logo

Information from WYSH Radio

Early voting for the November 4 general election in Anderson County begins Wednesday, October 15, and runs through Thursday, October 30.

Early voting hours Monday through Friday will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clinton Community Center, the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge, and at the North Anderson Government Office in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center in the Norris/Andersonville area. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Clinton, Education, Government, K-12, Lake City, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Election Commission, Board of Education, Chris Hepler, City Council, Clinton, Clinton Community Center, Donald Douglas, E.T. Stamey, early voting, grocery stores, Jeffery Bass, Jerry Vann, Maurice Walker, Michael Lovely, Midtown Community Center, Nathan Benson, Norris, North Anderson Government Office, November 4 election, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, on-site consumption, Rocky Top, Ron Young, Ted Phillips, Terry Craze, wine sales

Oliver Springs, Rocky Top receive grants for water, sewer system improvements

Posted at 3:11 pm October 5, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

State officials announce 80 Community Development Block Grants

Oliver Springs received a $525,000 grant for sewer system improvements, and Rocky Top (formerly Lake City) received a $360,840 grant for water system improvements, Tennessee officials announced last week.

Oliver Springs and Rocky Top were among the Tennessee communities that will receive funding after Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty approved more than $28 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to help with infrastructure, health and safety projects, and downtown improvements, a press release said.

The Oliver Springs grant will be matched with $225,000 in local funding (for $750,000 in total funding), and the Rocky Top grant will be matched with $27,160 in local funding for a total of $388,000. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Lake City, Oliver Springs, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, CDBG, Community Development Block Grant, funding, grant, infrastructure, jobs, Lake City, Oliver Springs, Rocky Top, sewer system, Tennessee Economic and Community Development, TNECD, water

Nineteen candidates for Oak Ridge City Council, School Board

Posted at 12:33 pm August 21, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Vote Logo

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m.

Ten candidates have qualified to run for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 4 municipal election, and there are nine candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education—a total of 19 candidates.

It’s the largest field of candidates in recent memory, and it’s not immediately clear when, or if, there has been a field as large.

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in this fall’s municipal elections in Anderson County was noon Thursday.

There is a mix of incumbents and newcomers in Oak Ridge, Clinton, Rocky Top (Lake City), Norris, and Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge

In Oak Ridge, two incumbents, including Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller, are not seeking re-election. Meanwhile, the other two incumbents whose terms expire this November, Anne Garcia Garland and David Mosby, are running for another four-year term.

In addition to Garcia Garland and Mosby, the other Oak Ridge City Council candidates are:

  • Kelly Callison,
  • R.G. “Rick” Chinn,
  • Warren L. Gooch,
  • Gary L. Love,
  • Pedro J. Otaduy,
  • Aditya “Doc” Savara,
  • Ellen D. Smith, and
  • Eric Tobler.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, 2014 Election, Anderson County, Clinton, Government, Lake City, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Wells, Aditya "Doc" Savara, Anderson County, Andrew Howard, Andrew Howe, Andy Marathe, Anne Garcia Garland, Becky Lindsay, Bill Grieve, Bob Eby, borrowing, Brian Brown, Brian Hatmaker, candidates, Cassandra Mitchell, Chris Hepler, Chris Keever, Chris Mitchell, Chuck Fleischmann, Clinton, Clinton Board of Education, Clinton City Council, Clinton mayor, Curtis Isabell, Dan DiGregorio, David Mosby, Denise Casteel, Donald R. Douglas, E.T. Stamey, Ellen Smith, Eric Tobler, Gary Mullins, Jack Black, Jane Miller, Jean Hiser, Jeffery Bass, Jenny Richter, Jo-Ann Fehr, Kelly Callison, Kimberly K. "K.K." Webster, Lake City, Laura Bowles, Laurie Paine, Loretta Painter, M.T. "Terry" Craze, Marian Wildgruber, Mary Headrick, Maurice Walker, Melanie Heiberg, Michael Lovely, Mike Mahathy, municipal elections, Natalie Erb, Nathan Benson, Norris, Norris City Council, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oliver Springs, Paige Marshall, Pamela Brown, Pedro J. Otaduy, Peter Sexton, Rick Chinn, Robert Miller, Rocky Top, Rocky Top City Council, Rocky Top mayor, Ronald Young, Scott Burton, Ted Phillips, Timothy Bible, Timothy Sharp, Tom Beehan, U.S. House of Representatives, Warren Gooch, York Haverkamp, Zach Farrar

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