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Council to review Preschool, Senior Center, Water Plant projects Tuesday

Posted at 11:34 am March 19, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council will review the Oak Ridge Preschool and Senior Center projects, and receive a briefing on the Water Plant project, during a work session on Tuesday.

The work session is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane, behind the Hobby Lobby shopping center.

The reviews of the Preschool and Senior Center projects are scheduled to be presented by Jacene Phillips of Studio Four Design. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Amy Fitzgerald, Board of Education, Jacene Phillips, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Preschool, Senior Center, Shira McWaters, Studio Four Design, water plant, work session

Letter: Fillauer a strong leader, dedicated advocate for children

Posted at 10:46 am October 30, 2016
By Keith and Melissa Jeter Leave a Comment

To the editor:

We are writing this letter in support of Keys Fillauer’s re-election to the Board of Education in the coming election.

Keys brings a unique perspective to the School Board. Not only did he teach at Robertsville Junior High School for 27 years and then at Oak Ridge High School for four years, he also coached basketball during his tenure at both schools.

He knows our community and its families well and is a dedicated advocate for our children. His strong leadership on the School Board over the last 15 years has guided the school system through many initiatives such as the remodeling of Oak Ridge High School and the 1:1 computer laptop program. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, Keith and Melissa Jeter, Keys Fillauer, Oak Ridge, school board

Column: Hope, the incumbent, responds to PAC endorsements

Posted at 12:42 pm October 23, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 5 Comments

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

By Chuck Hope

First of all, I want to say congratulations to Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel on being endorsed by the Chamber’s Progress PAC political action committee. I think it is important for the citizens of Oak Ridge to know that those three candidates are not the only candidates who support a vital economic development plan for Oak Ridge.

My community involvement has been extensive, serving on both the Chamber Board and the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City’s Beer Permit Board before being appointed to Council. I was selected by a council majority in July 2011 to fill a vacated council seat and successfully ran for election in 2012. My vision for economic development is to continue to grow our retail sector while continuing to work harder on industrial growth opportunities. Growth like carbon fiber, whose industry is showing a lot of promise right now.

I want voters to know that I was the top vote-getter in my first election, and I am one of just a few Council members that have been on both the Chamber of Commerce Board (chairman in 2010) and City Council. I have been a businessman in Oak Ridge since 1982, and during the past 15 years, I have supported the City/Chamber contracts and aligned myself with what I thought to be the Chamber’s “mission, vision, and legislative priorities,” and worked closely with the Oak Ridge Board of Education. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Government, Oak Ridge, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, Chamber of Commerce, Chuck Hope, ECA, Energy Communities Alliance, Hans Vogel, Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, Oak Ridge City Council, PAC endorsements, Parker Hardy, pre-K building, Progress PAC, Senior Center, U.S. Department of Energy, Water Treatment Facility

Council to consider amending mall plan, inviting DOE to discuss travel practices

Posted at 8:56 am October 19, 2015
By John Huotari 9 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:35 p.m.

During a special meeting Tuesday, the Oak Ridge City Council will consider amending the economic impact plan for the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. The change is being considered primarily because the master developer has changed.

The amendment to the economic impact plan, which also includes a date change, will be considered a day earlier, on Monday, October 19, by the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board and Anderson County Commission.

The Industrial Development Board has a public hearing and special meeting on the $13 million tax increment financing, or TIF, for the redevelopment and an amendment to the economic impact plan at 3:45 p.m. Monday, October 19, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. The County Commission is expected to consider the amendment in a meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Board of Education, Crosland Southeast, DOE, economic impact plan, Industrial Development Board, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, Mark Watson, Municipal Building Training Room, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Preschool, per diem rates, Randy McNally, RealtyLink, special meeting, tax increment financing, TIF, travel, travel practices, U.S. Department of Energy, work session

Oak Ridge Schools introduces Access Oak Ridge Digital 1:1 Initiative

Posted at 10:14 pm August 26, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Oak Ridge Schools formally introduced its digital 1:1 initiative, called Access Oak Ridge, at its Board of Education meeting Monday evening. The Access Oak Ridge initiative will put a digital device in the hands of every ORS middle school student prior to the end of the 2015-2016 school year.

The digital 1:1 rollout will start with a proof of concept phase beginning this October, which will include the 6th grade at Jefferson Middle School and the 7th grade at Robertsville Middle School. This phase will be followed by a full, middle school rollout to include all middle school grades 5-8.

Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools superintendent, offered crucial context and explained the importance behind the Access Oak Ridge initiative, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Access Oak Ridge, Board of Education, Bruce Borchers, digital 1:1 initiative, Jefferson Middle School, middle school, Oak Ridge Schools, ORS, Robertsville Middle School

Guest column: Won’t support tax increase, urges residents to prevent further waste

Posted at 11:51 am July 9, 2015
By Trina Baughn 15 Comments

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Sixteen years ago, Partners for Progress successfully lobbied the city to spend over $15 million of your (the taxpayer) money to launch a major development on the West End of Oak Ridge. The promises were enough to make people starry eyed. There was to be a picturesque subdivision of nearly 4,000 homes along with an industrial complex that, when all was said and done, would produce 17,000 jobs, $1 billion in payroll, and nearly $13 million in additional annual property taxes.

Three years ago, many of the same folks behind Partners for Progress began a similar PR campaign touting the sale and redevelopment of the mall. “More shopping choices are coming!” they proclaimed. To date, the city has approved the use of $1.5 million of your money for infrastructure costs and a $13 million TIF (tax increment financing), which will  suppress property tax revenue at current levels for the next 30 years. In other words, no matter what happens, the 64 acres will continue, as it has for the last decade, to produce only 10 percent of its original value because any increases will be used to repay the TIF loan. Developers and city officials claim that the project will produce $1 million (or 20 percent) in additional sales tax revenue to the city, though, historically, the national retail sales growth rate range is between -11.51 percent to +11.18 percent. Even if we find a way around the notoriously stringent Wal-Mart non-compete covenants and actually bring in real retail, it is absolutely impossible to expect these projections to materialize, since, even in the best of times, we’ve not seen half that level of growth. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, Bob Eby, budget, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, CVMR, Leonard Abbatiello, mall, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Partners for Progress, PILT, property tax revenue, property taxes, Rarity Ridge, subdivision, tax abatement, tax incentives, tax increment financing, Thom Mason, TIF, Trina Baughn, USEC

Letter: Chamber board lists spending priorities

Posted at 10:46 pm June 20, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Letters 2 Comments

Note: This is a copy of a June 8 letter from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors to Mayor Warren Gooch and members of City Council, and Chairman Keys Fillauer and the Board of Education.

Mayor Gooch and Chairman Fillauer:

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted, following the recommendation of our Advocacy Committee, to request the following be given serious consideration as discussions and voting occurs for your respective Fiscal Year 2016 budgets.

Spending Priorities:

  • Development and funding of a prioritized capital improvement plan for infrastructure improvements such as city/school buildings, streets, utilities, etc.
  • Pay increase for Oak Ridge Schools teachers and staff and City of Oak Ridge staff.
  • Waterfront improvements.

While we understand that the city is faced with adjusting the tax rate to reconcile with lower property appraisals, we do feel strongly that the city needs to prioritize spending around these three areas in order to position Oak Ridge as a community of choice for new and expanding businesses and residents.

Sincerely,

Melinda Hillman

Chairman of the Board

 

Parker Hardy

President/CEO

Filed Under: Education, Government, K-12, Letters, Oak Ridge, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, capital improvement plan, City Council, infrastructure improvements, Keys Fillauer, Melinda Hillman, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Parker Hardy, pay increase, property appraisals, spending, tax rate, Warren Gooch, waterfront improvements

Oak Ridge Schools 2020 Planning Committee meets Wednesday

Posted at 7:20 pm June 16, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The 2020 Planning Committee for Oak Ridge Schools will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, in the School Administration Building conference room.

The board is reviewing “where we are in the planning process and developing a strategy for our next actions,” the agenda said.

“The Oak Ridge School District is committed to providing its students many opportunities and experiences through which to become aware of, explore, and plan for college and career,” a meeting notice said. “In order to define our focus over the next five years, we are creating a five-year plan to be delivered to the Board of Education for consideration. Representatives from the business and industry community, parents, students, school staff, and board members have been selected to have an opportunity to provide input and serve on this committee.”

Members include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events Tagged With: 2020 Planning Committe, Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools

Gooch: Main Street No. 1 priority, gives updates on National Park, reappraisals, airport

Posted at 1:08 am May 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Main Street Oak Ridge Site Plan April 16, 2015

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch on Tuesday said his number one priority for the community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge, which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above is a cropped picture of the Main Street Oak Ridge site plan as of April 16. A link to a larger PDF version of the plan is included in the story below.

 

Note: Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch gave an update on positive developments and challenges during a talk to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 5. Here is a lightly edited version of his remarks, which organized the positive developments and challenges into sections. Gooch was appointed mayor by the seven-member Oak Ridge City Council on November 24. This is his first four-year term on the City Council.

It is a distinct privilege for me to serve as your mayor, but I always preface my remarks by saying that I am not speaking today for Council or for the city manager. I have one vote on Council, but I do consider myself to be the chairman of the board of directors for the city.

In that capacity, as I enter my sixth month of service as mayor, I want to share my thoughts about positive developments in our city, discuss near-term challenges that we face, share the results that I have from the community survey that I have been conducting, and leave time for your questions and comments.

First. My number one priority for our community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge (which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall), and it is moving forward. Last week, Crosland Southeast announced that MDC Development Group of Atlanta will be the hotel developer for the project. MDC is also a major developer in the senior housing industry and 15 months ago opened Canterfield Oak Ridge Assisted Living. It has been very successful and well-received in our community.

I was advised yesterday (Monday, May 4) that the retail leasing component of the Main Street project is moving forward, as are the negotiations with a developer for the multi-family housing component of the Main Street project. Groundbreaking and demolition for Main Street is on schedule to begin by June 30. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: 3-D printing, additive manufacturing, advanced composite, alloys, Anderson County, Board of Education, Bruce Borchers, budget, Carl Kalbacher, Cassius Cash, challenges, community impact assessment, Crosland Southeast, CVMR, demolition, DOE, Environmental Management Disposal Facility, graphene, Great Smoky Mountains Park Commission, groundbreaking, hotel, Jackson Square, Jim Akagi, K-25 site, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, mayor, MDC, MDC development group, metal powders, metallurgy, Mike Hargett, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, national park, National Park Service, NPS, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge airport, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, positive developments, Powerhouse Six Solar One Megawatt Array, preschool, property tax rate, property values, reappraisals, review, Roane County, The Ferguson Group, U.S. Department of Energy, Warren Gooch

Baughn asks for investigation of police chief; Hensley seeks reprimand of Baughn

Posted at 6:48 pm February 3, 2015
By John Huotari 15 Comments

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Charlie Hensley

Charlie Hensley

Note: This story was updated at 7:08 p.m.

On one hand is Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn. She’s called for an investigation of the police chief.

On the other is City Council member Charlie Hensley. He wants the seven-member Council to reprimand Baughn.

It’s not clear which side, if either, will prevail during the Monday night meeting of the Oak Ridge City Council.

The two Council members, who have a strained relationship, have dueling resolutions that could be considered on Monday. Either one would require a second from another Council member to be discussed and four votes to be approved.

Both resolutions follow more than one week of accusations and allegations that have roiled and divided the community. They have focused, in particular, on the management of the Oak Ridge Police Department by Chief Jim Akagi and raised questions about the turnover rate and whether it is high. Some of the most blistering criticisms have come from former Oak Ridge Police Chief David Beams, who said he still visits the city. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Blount County Circuit Court, Board of Education, Bobby Hill, Charlie Hensley, Christopher Bayless, City Council, David Beams, investigation, Jack Mansfield, Jim Akagi, Ken Krushenski, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Charter, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Police Department, order of protection, police chief, rebuke, recruiting firm, reprimand, resolution, Trina Baughn

Letter: Asks Council, BOE to work together to approve, fund Preschool plan

Posted at 9:58 pm December 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Letters 1 Comment

To the Editor:

We have a unique opportunity for this community to come together, not just for the good of the schools, but for the good of the people.

The Oak Ridge school system is a big draw for newcomers to the area. When our family chose to relocate to East Tennessee, the Oak Ridge school’s reputation was a large factor in purchasing a home here and joining this community. As our oldest moves through elementary school, I can say this was the best decision for our family.

Oak Ridge is filled with teachers who truly care for their students. And, the Preschool is no different.

The Oak Ridge Preschool is an essential, irreplaceable entity that serves so many families. Two of my children have had the privilege of attending the Preschool and growing through the care of the teachers and staff. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Letters, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, City Council, Jessica Hill, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Preschool, preschool program, school system, teachers

Letter: Gooch wants to be mayor, make city efficient, business-friendly

Posted at 8:52 pm November 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

Warren L. Gooch

Warren L. Gooch

Dear City Council colleagues,

I am submitting this letter to express my interest in being elected mayor. I believe our next mayor must provide bold leadership, vision, energy, and a commitment to excellence in our schools, city services, and quality of life.

During the recent campaign, I spoke about my vision and goals for Oak Ridge and my expectations for city government to become more efficient, responsive, and business friendly. The voters, across our city, clearly embraced my message.

As mayor, I pledge to be a consensus builder and to work with each of you, the Board of Education, and city staff to help move Oak Ridge forward. For over 70 years, city leaders have dared to undertake initiatives that have made Oak Ridge a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I am confident that working together our best days are still ahead.

I respectfully ask for your support.

Warren Gooch

Oak Ridge City Council member-elect

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, Letters, Oak Ridge, Opinion Tagged With: Board of Education, business-friendly, city government, city services, leadership, mayor, municipal election, Oak Ridge City Council, schools, vision, Warren Gooch

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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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