Oak Ridge Today

Guest column: Chamber believes Oak Ridge retail scene about to improve

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Working the retail scene

As you read this, a team of representatives from Oak Ridge is returning home from Las Vegas, Nev., where we attended the International Council of Shopping Centers annual ReCon convention. The convention is the largest gathering of representatives of national retailers and restaurants in the world.

Our team walked an average of about nine miles per day making sure we visited as many representatives as possible during our time here. We also exhibited in a pavilion that is set up specifically for cities around the nation. Several Tennessee communities were represented there. While there, we had 20 face-to-face meetings with representatives of national retailers and restaurants as well as representatives of Kroger Real Estate and Crosland Southeast, the company contracted to purchase the Oak Ridge City Center. [Read more…]

Guest column: A competitive advantage for Oak Ridge

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Note: This is a copy of a letter sent to Oak Ridge City Council members by resident Martin McBride.

I came to East Tennessee 25 years ago to work with Oak Ridge nuclear facilities. One of the first things my new employer did was to set up an appointment with a Farragut Realtor. The realtor gave my wife and I a lovely tour of the west Knox County area.

When I hesitantly mentioned Oak Ridge, he quickly responded, “You realize the property tax problems over there?” For the next several minutes, the realtor went over the tax rates, emphasizing the tax advantage of living in Farragut.

He then compared the Farragut lifestyle to that of Oak Ridge. Amazingly, Farragut kept getting the edge. According to that realtor, Farragut had all the advantages—especially in tax rates. [Read more…]

Letter: Recommends Anderson County establish fire district

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To the Editor:

This month’s Operations Committee meeting included discussion on a proposed resolution that would disqualify any fee- or membership-based fire department from participating in Anderson County’s annual appropriations plan for major asset purchases. Under the current agreement, property taxes fund equipment purchases for both the municipal and volunteer fire departments on a yearly rotational basis.

According to current state statutes, local governments have only two options available to fund or contribute to the county fire departments. Either a county fire district is established, whereby a separate account is created (for funding purposes), which allows for oversight and accountability, or the source of funding is limited to a donation which allows little input from the legislative body. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department celebrated National Police Week

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department joined law enforcement agencies across the nation in celebrating National Police Week from May 12 through May 18.

May 15 was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week containing May 15 has been National Police Week since President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 on Oct. 1, 1962. It was not until May 15, 1982, that the first National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day service was held.

Activities during National Police Week now include the annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day Service on May 15 draws thousands from across the nation. [Read more…]

Guest column: Hope proposes funding increases for fire station, economic development, maintenance

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Editor’s note: The following proposals by Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope were first considered at the Monday, May 13, City Council meeting but postponed to a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the Municipal Building Courtroom.

I would like to make a motion for an amendment to the ordinance to provide revenue for municipal purposes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, to increase the funding in the general fund in three critical areas.

The first area is in economic development. I would like to increase funding by $200,000 to strengthen our economic strategies that the city manager has proposed for the upcoming year. I would like to see an additional $75,000 be added to the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce contract to fully fund the three-part approach the city manager has developed, with the remaining $125,000 set aside to be used if any additional projects come forward this next calendar year.

The second part of this amendment would be to add $250,000 to the capital maintenance portion of our maintenance and operations (M&O) budget. We have several projects that will need to be updated and repaired this next year. If put off until further in the future, we will be doing these projects under a emergency situation, which always cost us more in repairs. It is essential that we maintain a proper M&O budget so we can get the most out of all of our city assets. [Read more…]

Guest column: Baughn lists budget-cutting proposals to reduce tax rate

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

During our May 13 and May 28 meetings, the Oak Ridge City Council will determine your property tax rate for the next year via our annual budget. Our decision will directly affect your personal finances. Of greater consequence, however, we will establish our city’s competitive position.

Currently, Oak Ridge has the third-highest property tax rate in East Tennessee at $2.39 when you add in the Anderson County rate of $2.35. Each penny of our rate equals approximately $90,000 of spending. We have a tremendous opportunity to make Oak Ridge more competitive and attractive to prospective residents and businesses without sacrificing our quality of life.

In addition to increasing our revenues (I’ve suggested converting select city-owned assets into taxable properties, eliminating tax abatements, and negotiating voluntary payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements), we must ensure the highest and best use of each and every penny you entrust to us.

During our deliberations, I will make the following motions to immediately reduce our tax rate and/or improve our marketability to outsiders: [Read more…]

Anderson Sheriff, other communities observed National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and other communities throughout the nation, honored 2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 21-April 27. This year’s theme was “New Challenges, New Solutions,” and it celebrated the spirit that will advance crime victims’ rights.

Thirty years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives. They were often excluded from courtrooms, treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice system, and denied an opportunity to speak at sentencing.

Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established crime victim compensation funds. More than 10,000 victim service agencies help victims throughout the nation. Every year, states and localities receive millions of federal dollars to support these services. [Read more…]

Letter: Donate to honor women during National Women’s Build Week

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To the Editor:

“There are women who make things better… simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who—through strength and courage—make it through. There are women who change the world everyday…” -Ashley Rice

Mother. Grandmother. Aunt. Sister. Daughter. Friend.

No matter what name she goes by, she has always been there to support you.

Now you can put all the love she has shown you into the walls of another family’s home. [Read more…]

Guest column: Strategizing a path to prosperity

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

The problem

This month, the Oak Ridge City Council will establish your property tax rate for 2014 via the approval of our annual city budget. And though it appears that taxes will remain flat, our excessive spending levels are unsustainable and continue to hinder our ability to compete with surrounding communities.

In spite of all the new developments happening as of late, if council approves the budget as proposed, residents and businesses will continue to feel the financial crunch for quite some time. Not only will we retain one of the highest property tax rates in the state, but we’ll also retain one of the largest per capita debt levels in the region. (At nearly $7,000 per person, we have more than four times that of Knox County residents and more than seven times that of Knoxville residents). A dozen more chicken places and grocery store relocations won’t make a dent in the average Oak Ridger’s bills.

If we are to make any kind of progress, we need a strategy that aims to increase revenue while reducing expenditures. This column will focus on increasing our revenue base. I will address budgetary inefficiencies and waste in a follow-up piece next week. [Read more…]

Guest column: Applauds House, Senate support for Manhattan Project park

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Editor’s note: National Parks supporters last week applauded the unanimous approval by a House committee of a bill to set up a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include Oak Ridge. Here are statements from two supporters.

Ron Tipton, senior vice president of policy for the National Parks Conservation Association

The National Parks Conservation Association applauds the bipartisan House and Senate support for preserving of our country’s history, through the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act. Today’s announcement provides another positive step forward, as the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the bipartisan bill introduced by Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, Congressman Ben Lujan, and Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.

These national park sites will provide unparalleled opportunities to improve public understanding of the Manhattan Project, the legacy of the United States’ splitting of the atom, and the national and global impacts associated with harnessing the atom. [Read more…]

Letter: EVC thanks city worker for help with signs

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To the Editor:

Emory Valley Center has been researching new signage for our campus in Oak Ridge. Before purchasing new signs, we asked for assistance from the City of Oak Ridge to learn all the specifics for sign regulations.

Monica Austin, Oak Ridge Community Development division manager, could not have been more helpful. She visited our campus with me, told me the proper signs we needed for safety for the many people that come and go in our busy buildings every day, and followed up with me with accurate drawings for placements. [Read more…]

Guest column: Anderson County officials present budget highlights

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By Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and Budget Director Chris Phillips

As Anderson County government begins the budget process for the 2013/2014 county budget, we wanted to share with the citizens, elected officials, county employees, and all interested parties some of the challenges and opportunities that we face in presenting our County Commission with a balanced, no-tax-increase budget while still providing core services.

Upon first request from all departments, the county’s general fund budget is out of balance by more than $4 million, expenditures over revenues.

Revenues are initially projected at 98 percent of our current year levels. Property assessments (growth) have a slight increase, while things like sales tax and business tax are projected to be down to some extent. While the county’s general fund is not heavily dependent upon federal revenue, budget woes at the federal level have caused concern about some of the revenues that we do receive. [Read more…]