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Hensley endorses Lee, Dodson, Vogel

Posted at 11:41 am October 18, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

The City Council election coming up is very important to the future of Oak Ridge. We, as a community, are seeing significant positive change in many areas including retail growth, business recruitment, and quality of life. This election, in my opinion, can set the stage for further positive change and quality growth.

There are three candidates in my opinion, who are seeking seats on Oak Ridge City Council, who can continue and accelerate our city’s progress. Joe Lee, Jim Dodson, and Hans Vogel have impressive and varied experiences to bring to bear on city issues. All three of these candidates have demonstrated, through their careers and dedication to city service, their potential as Council members and that consensus building and teamwork are keys in their approaches to make things happen.

Joe Lee [Read more…]

Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Arts Council, Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Charlie Hensley, City of Oak Ridge, Convention and Visitors Bureau, early voting, election, Hans Vogel, Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Schools, UT-Battelle

Lee, a construction superintendent, running for Oak Ridge City Council

Posted at 2:15 pm July 13, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 35 Comments

Joe Lee

Joe Lee (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Joseph “Joe” Lee, a commercial construction worker who is now a field superintendent for a project at the University of Tennessee, is running for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 8 election.

Lee, an Oak Ridge native, announced his candidacy this month, and he said he has qualified to be on the ballot in November.

Lee is a 1970 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, and he attended Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. He returned to his hometown in 1987 and was employed by Downtown Management Company as construction manager during the time known as “The Mall Wars,” a press release said. He met Julie Easterday there, and they were married in 1989. They now have two daughters, Lindsay and Loren.

The press release said​ Lee has worked his entire career in the commercial construction industry as either carpenter, superintendent, or construction manager. He has worked throughout the Southeast on industrial, institutional, and commercial projects, the release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: 2016 election, Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Howard Baker Center for Public Policy, Joe Lee, Joseph "Joe" Lee, Neyland Stadium, November 8 election, Oak Ridge City Council, Rentenbach, University Center, University of Tennessee

Guest column: Serving the city helps achieve community goals

Posted at 1:07 pm December 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

By Mark S. Watson, Oak Ridge City Manager

The City of Oak Ridge is one that prides itself on the interest, knowledge, and involvement of its citizens in local government. Oak Ridgers are always willing to add a different perspective, technical information, and just darn good opinions on topics that affect them.

On January 12, 2015, the Oak Ridge City Council will appoint citizen volunteers to fill vacancies on boards and commissions that have occurred due to term expiration and attrition from the board membership.

Applications must be received in the City Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31.

Over the past years, the City Council has found it sometimes challenging to fill the vacancies of its various boards. People are busy, and getting busier! Some feel that many governmental matters require special knowledge. Others have not thought of providing their talents to shape their community. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Guest Columns, Oak Ridge, Opinion Tagged With: applications, Beer Permit Board, Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, boards, City Clerk, City of Oak Ridge, commissions, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Environmental Quality Advisory Board, IDB, Industrial Development Board, local government, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Personnel Advisory Board, Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board, Trade Licensing Board, Traffic Safety Advisory Board, TSAB

Boys and Girls Club president running for School Board

Posted at 6:17 am October 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Aaron Wells

Aaron Wells

Aaron Wells, a lifelong Oak Ridger and president of the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge, is running for Oak Ridge Board of Education in the November 4 municipal election, a press release said.

“Over the last two decades, I have spent countless hours coaching, mentoring, and fundraising for the youth in our town,” Wells said in the release. “After much prayer and discussion, my wife Melissa and I made the decision that I would run for school board.”

If elected, Wells said he will focus on achieving four priorities.

“First and foremost, I commit to truly listen to our teachers and integrate their feedback into all of my decisions,” Wells said. “Teachers are the lifeblood of our schools, and they know better than anyone how to make our students successful. We can no longer afford to ignore their invaluable feedback and concerns. The Board of Education must fight to restore to them the freedom they need to do what they do best—inspire and educate our children.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Education, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Wells, Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge, career path, November 4 municipal election, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, parents, sales director, school board, spending, students, teachers

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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