Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County Tea Party re-forms, Council member to speak Tuesday

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

The Anderson County Tea Party is being re-formed and will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, at the Oak Ridge Red Cross building. The featured speaker will be Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn, a press release said.

Other agenda items will include a brief history of the ACTP, establishment of a charter, and setting a vision for the future. The book, “The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea,” by Paul Ryan, will also be raffled off, the press release said.

The Red Cross building is located at 908 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The Tuesday night meeting is open to the public and will last until approximately 8:15 p.m., the release said.

City Council to consider Friendship Bell grant app, Woodland rezonings

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Friendship Bell Housing Demolition

Workers began demolishing the International Friendship Bell structure during the last week of July. (Photo by Bill Moore Jr.)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider applying for a $100,000 grant application to help rebuild the Friendship Bell House in Alvin K. Bissell Park, and members will also consider a preliminary plan and re-zonings that would allow a retail development on 2.29 acres along South Illinois Avenue between Aldi grocery and Weigel’s gas station and convenience store.

If Council approves, the city would apply for a Friendship Bell grant from the Japan World Exposition 1970 Commemorative Fund, which supports projects that “contribute to international cultural exchange and international goodwill.” The city is requesting $100,000 to match $50,000 from the Oak Ridge Capital Projects Fund and $50,000 from private and community contributions and donations. The grant application outlines a 50/50 match requirement if the request is approved.

A February inspection determined that the 65-70 percent of the wooden support beams in the bell house were compromised and showed substantial deterioration, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department Director Josh Collins said in a memo to City Manager Mark S. Watson. [Read more…]

Assessment team to visit DOE disposal facility, meet with community

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Three members of the consulting team selected to conduct a community impact assessment of the U.S. Department of Energy’s proposed Environmental Management Disposal Facility will visit Oak Ridge on Monday and Tuesday, September 8 and 9. The purpose of the visit is to tour the existing disposal facility and the site of the proposed EMDF, to gather information, and to meet with local stakeholders, a press release said.

The team members are Karl Kalbacher, project manager and director of environment, economics and grant services for The Ferguson Group in Washington, D.C.; Mark Rockel, principal consultant for ENVIRON International Corporation; and Jason Miller, principal of ENVIRON International Corporation.

The team will be available to meet community stakeholders on both days: [Read more…]

Water Exercise class begins September 8

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The city’s next water exercise session will start September 8 and run through October 17. These classes run in six-week sessions.

The class will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1-2 p.m. in the indoor pool at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The fee is $42 per person and $37.50 for anyone 65 and older for the six-week session. The rate per class is $4.25 and $2.25 for 65 and older.

For more information call the Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit www.orrecparks.org.

Roane economic development group considers distribution of public image funds

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The Roane County Economic Development Foundation will meet in a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, September 8, at Kingston City Hall to consider the distribution of public image funds.

Participants will include Roane County Economic Development Foundation members, Tennessee Valley Authority Senior Vice President Bob Deacy, TVA Senior Vice President John Bradley, TVA Vice President Justin Maierhofer, TVA Senior Manager Leslie Nale, Roane County Executive Ron Woody, Kingston Mayor Troy Beets, Harriman Mayor Chris Mason, and Rockwood Mayor Jim Watts.

Kingston City Hall is at 900 Waterford Place in Kingston.

TVA said its support for economic development priorities in Roane County and its communities are an important part of TVA’s commitment to contribute to the area’s long-term development.

Gooch running for Oak Ridge City Council

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Warren L. Gooch

Warren L. Gooch

Warren Gooch is running for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 4 election.

Gooch is a partner in the law firm of Kramer Rayson LLP, which has offices in Oak Ridge and Knoxville. He has been recognized as a leading health care lawyer by national and regional publications, including the 2015 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America,” a press release said.

“I am a candidate for City Council because I believe in Oak Ridge,” Gooch said. “I am proud to live in a city with an unparalleled history of accomplishments.”

But Oak Ridge is at a crossroads, he said.

“In order for us to continue to prosper, we must have a vision to grow the city, energy to promote it, and a commitment to excellence in our schools, city services, and our quality of life,” Gooch said. “Our city government  must be efficient, responsive to all of its citizens, and open for business. As a member of City Council, I pledge to be a consensus builder, and to provide the leadership that will move Oak Ridge forward.” [Read more…]

Marquette Road to close temporarily for sewer rehab work

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Marquette Road between Lafayette Drive and North Purdue Avenue in the Woodland neighborhood will be closed during the week of September 8 for rehabilitation work on the city’s sewer system.

Oak Ridge officials expect the work to be done by September 12. It’s being done by Portland Construction Inc. under a contract with the Oak Ridge Public Works Department. The contractor is providing rehabilitation work on the city’s gravity wastewater collection system, a press release said.

The temporary road closure on Marquette Road between Lafayette Drive and North Purdue Avenue will allow Portland Construction to lay pump hoses across the closed portion of the road, the press release said. Access to parking at the First Baptist Church located at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike will be maintained, and Gettysburg Avenue may be used as a detour. [Read more…]

Anderson County Commission approves deer hunting at former landfill site

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CLINTON—Members of the Anderson County Commission, during their regular meeting on Aug. 18, approved a resolution that will allow citizens to hunt deer on the county-owned former Blockhouse Valley Landfill site.

Deer hunting will be limited to the former landfill site and restricted to permitted individuals, a press release said.

Citizens interested in obtaining permits for the hunt must submit their applications and requests by calling (865) 457-6201 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

A lottery drawing will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, in Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank’s office, located in Suite 208 at the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main Street in Clinton.

Anderson County Commission appoints new chair, vice chair

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Robert McKamey

Robert McKamey

The Anderson County Commission on Tuesday appointed a new chair and vice chair.

The new chair is Anderson County Commissioner Robert McKamey, who represents District 5, which includes the Clinton High, Dutch Valley, Marlow, and Norwood precincts.

The new vice chair is Steve Emert, who represents District 3, which includes Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine, and Norris.

There were no other nominations for chair and vice chair during the five-minute special meeting at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton on Tuesday morning.

McKamey will replace Commissioner Chuck Fritts of District 1 (Claxton and Bull Run). Fritts did not seek to be re-appointed as chair after three terms. [Read more…]

Gov. Haslam in Oak Ridge on Friday for Roane State ribbon-cutting

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam will be in Oak Ridge on Friday for the ribbon-cutting at the new Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building at Roane State Community College.

The ribbon-cutting is at 8:30 a.m. Friday, after the East Tennessee Economic Council meeting, which starts at 7:30 a.m. in the new Roane State building, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The governor will also be at the ETEC meeting.

No garbage pickup on Labor Day

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Waste Connections Inc. will not pick up garbage or recyclables on Monday, September 1 (Labor Day).

Monday’s routes will be picked up on Tuesday, September 2, and the following subsequent days the rest of the week.

“Please have all refuse and recyclables out by 7 a.m. for Tuesday route,” a press release said.

For additional information, you can call Waste Connections Inc. at (865) 482-3656 or visit www.WasteConnectionsTn.com.

Sewer rehab work continues week of Sept. 2

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More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week, starting Tuesday, September 2.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the City of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information.

Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are urged to use extra care and caution when traveling on the streets with sewer work areas, a press release said. Temporary road repairs will be made, and loose gravel should be expected until the patches are permanently paved. [Read more…]