Oak Ridge Today

Planners and protesters participate in Thursday forum

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PlanET Group Discussion

Emily Woodle, City of Knoxville Community Development project specialist, left, and Jim Dickson, YMCA of East Tennessee president and chief executive officer, help rank top regional issues during a PlanET forum Thursday.

Their mission challenged by protesters, several dozen regional leaders who met in Oak Ridge on Thursday said poor air quality, drug abuse, and the large number of low-skilled jobs are among the issues that ought to be addressed as a new five-county plan is developed.

Other top-priority issues include improving regional school quality, reducing the obesity rate, and providing access to affordable housing and more transportation alternatives.

A protestor at the April 19 PlanET meeting

Knoxville resident Kevin Desmond protests outside a PlanET meeting at Flatwater Grill on Thursday.

Thursday’s forum was organized by PlanET, and about 75 people attended, including an estimated 30 protesters inside and more outside. The protesters were concerned about property rights and wanted to know, specifically, what PlanET might propose.

Some also tied the planning process to Agenda 21, a United Nations resolution passed in 1992 that was designed to encourage nations to use fewer resources and conserve open land by steering development to already dense areas.

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Quincy Avenue to close April 27

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Construction work on the Woodland Town Center is scheduled to begin soon, and a short section of Quincy Avenue between South Purdue and South Illinois Avenue is scheduled to be closed on Friday, April 27.

The street closure could be delayed for bad weather. That section of Quincy Avenue will be closed for approximately four to five months while a new street is constructed as part of the Woodland Town Center, which is expected to include an Aubrey’s restaurant and a larger Panera Bread.

Motorists are requested to avoid this area and use alternate routes of travel.

Any questions or comments can be directed to the City of Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875.

New Senior Center supporters could outnumber opponents

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Oak Ridge City Council

At Monday's City Council meeting, Linda Daugherty, right, of the University of Tennessee, presents survey results that suggest supporters of a new Oak Ridge Senior Center could outnumber opponents. Also pictured are Council members Charlie Hensley, left, and David Mosby.

Building a new Oak Ridge senior center has been hotly debated for more than a decade, and opinions about replacing the current center on Emory Valley Road remain divided.

Still, a recent survey by the University of Tennessee suggested supporters of a new center could outnumber opponents.

Almost half of those who responded to the survey, or 49 percent of respondents, said they either somewhat strongly or strongly support building a new center. That’s more than double the 21.2 percent who said they are somewhat or strongly opposed.

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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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Council considers water, sewer rate increases tonight

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During a special meeting tonight, the Oak Ridge City Council will again consider significant increases in the city’s water and sewer rates.

Council members postponed a decision during their regular April 9 meeting to allow the public more time to study the most recent proposed rates.

The most recent proposal calls for raising total water and sewer rates between 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.

Council will consider those rate hikes during a special meeting at 7 p.m. today in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom at 200 S. Tulane Ave.

Also on the agenda is a special report by Linda M. Daugherty of the University of Tennessee on the need for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center.

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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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Democratic meet-and-greet on Friday

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Oak Ridge resident Pat Fain is having a Friday night meet-and-talk session with Mary Headrick, one of two Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s Third Congressional District.

The meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at 926 W. Outer Drive, is open to all Democrats interested in learning more about the candidates in the Aug. 2 primary.

Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday

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Don’t miss the Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, April 14 . This event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the at the Oak Ridge Public Works Building on Woodbury Lane behind K-Mart.

For a complete list of items that you can bring, contact Anderson County Solid Waste Management at 865-463-6845.

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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Demand low, Bull Run plant idled

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The Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton is idled due to mild weather and low power demand

The Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton, which can produce close to 900 megawatts of electricity, is currently idled due to mild weather and low power demand. Residents have noticed that the normal white plume of smoke, mostly water vapor, is not being emitted from the plant’s shorter smokestack. The single-unit Bull Run plant will be brought back online when it is needed in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s power mix.

Note: This story is from Spring 2012, but it has apparently been picked up by someone and widely shared, which would explain how it ended up in our most popular posts list today. I apologize that the photo caption runs off the right side of the main content column. This photo was posted when we were using a wider version of this site earlier this year. We’re using a version that’s more narrow now. (John Huotari – 10/31/2012)

Gooch: I will not raise taxes

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Warren Gooch, the Democratic candidate for Anderson County mayor, talks to Claxton residents Carol Brown and Kathy Martin after a Tuesday evening forum at Claxton Elementary School.

Warren Gooch, the Democratic candidate for Anderson County mayor, talks to Claxton residents Carol Brown, left, and Kathy Martin, center, after a Tuesday evening forum at Claxton Elementary School.

CLAXTON—Warren Gooch has a time-honored, easy-to-remember campaign promise. “I will not raise taxes,” he’s proclaimed on billboards alongside busy roads in Anderson County.

It’s a message that Gooch, the Democratic candidate for Anderson County mayor, continued to deliver this week, this time in person, during a Tuesday evening forum at Claxton Elementary School. It was the first of four forums Gooch has scheduled this month.

“Raising taxes is simply not an option,” said Gooch, a 60-year-old Oak Ridge attorney.

Gooch points out that there was already a significant property tax rate increase in Anderson County last year to help pay for projects that include a jail expansion, new alternative school, and the purchase of industrial land.

Also, the current economic recovery is very fragile, Gooch said.

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Forums this week for Warren Gooch, AC mayoral candidate

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Warren Gooch, a Democrat who is running for Anderson County Mayor, has several public forums this week.

The first will be on Tuesday, April 3rd, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Claxton Elementary School Cafeteria.

The rest are as follows:

  • Thursday, April 5th, 6:00-7:30 Dutch Valley School
  • Saturday, April 14th 1:00-2:30 New River Forum at Scotty Phillips Store
  • Tuesday, April 17th, 6:00-7:30 Briceville Elementary

Information from warrengooch.com.