Oak Ridge Today

Mark Watson to present ‘State of City’

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Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will present “State of the City” during at Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

Watson, who is retiring in May, will be the featured speaker at noon Tuesday, April 4, in the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

Watson has served as Oak Ridge city manager since August 2010. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration and city management from the University of Kansas. In 2019, he received his doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in public administration and American government. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager retiring

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Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson is retiring in May.

Watson, who has been city manager since 2010, announced his May 5 retirement during an Oak Ridge City Council work session on Tuesday.

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City manager Watson to discuss ‘state of city’ on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will present his annual “State of the City” during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Watson has served as Oak Ridge city manager since August 2010. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration and city management from the University of Kansas. In 2019, he received his doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

[Read more…]

City manager to present proposed budget

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Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will present the proposed budget for the next fiscal year in a special meeting this evening (Tuesday, May 28).

The special Oak Ridge City Council meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom at 200 South Tulane Avenue.

The next fiscal year starts July 1.

Oak Ridge city manager earns doctorate degree from UT

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Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received his doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Tennessee on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received his doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Tennessee on Thursday, May 9. In March, Watson successfully defended his dissertation titled “City Managers, Mayors and Councilmembers: Local Stability in Tennessee.”

“It has always been a belief of mine for continuous learning, and being close to the University of Tennessee allowed me to fulfill the heights of my profession while learning new technical and research skills along the way,” Watson said in a press release on Monday. “I shall continue to use those skills in serving Oak Ridge in the years ahead. It has been quite a seven-year academic journey while working full time as a city manager.”

[Read more…]

City manager to discuss ‘State of the City’ on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will discuss the “State of the City” during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday, a press release said.

The annual event will be during “Lunch with the League” on Tuesday, March 5.

Watson has served as Oak Ridge city manager since August 2010. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration in city management from the University of Kansas, the press release said. A second-generation city manager, he served six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona before coming to Oak Ridge.

Watson has received numerous awards and honors, and in 2017, was recognized by the International City/County Management Association for a 40-year career in public service, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager to discuss issues facing the city on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

 

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give his perspective on issues facing the city at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 6. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

In August 2010, Watson was selected as the city manager of Oak Ridge after a 30-year career in local government, a press release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he served as city manager of six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.

Watson is a credentialed public manager as accepted by the International City/County Management Association, where he previously served as vice president, the press release said. He has received numerous awards and has issued numerous publications, the most noted being the “Cities that Think” program, the release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from University of Kansas

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Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees Alumni Organization (KUCIMAT) on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, during a banquet at the International City/County Management Association Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees Alumni Organization (KUCIMAT) on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, during a banquet at the International City/County Management Association Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees Alumni Organization (KUCIMAT) on Sunday, October 22, during a banquet at the International City/County Management Association Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, a press release said.

The KU Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have, through cumulative career achievements and successes, furthered the purpose of the KUCIMAT organization, the press release said. As stated in his nomination for the award, written by his son Kevin Watson, “Mark’s passion for local government combined with his strong leadership and commitment to mentoring the next generation of managers made him an ideal candidate.”

Speaking about the award, Watson said: “I was deeply surprised and honored that my fellow city managers from across the nation and United Kingdom had recognized me for my work. Members of my family, a number of friends, and many of my past interns, who are now practicing city managers, were there honoring me with their attendance.”

Watson is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration in city management, the press release said. Watson was selected as city manager of Oak Ridge in August 2010 after a 30-year career in local government. He is a second-generation city manager and has served in that capacity since 1981, the press release said. Before arriving in Oak Ridge, Watson served as city manager to six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. [Read more…]

Marshall named Norris city manager

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Matthew Marshall

Matthew Marshall

Matthew Marshall, the purchasing and risk management director in Athens, has been named city manager of Norris, according to the Norris Bulletin.

The Norris City Council made the selection during a special meeting last week, the Norris Bulletin said. Marshall was one of five candidates interviewed during a two-day process.

Marshall has been director of purchasing and risk management for Athens since July 2011, or almost six years. He graduated from Farragut High School in 2002, and he has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee (2011), according to his LinkedIn profile. [Read more…]

Norris accepting applications for city manager

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Information from WYSH Radio

The City of Norris is now accepting applications for the position of city manager. Norris is a city of 1,600 people, and it has a total work force of 24 employees, with an annual budget of more than $1 million.

The city manager carries out the policies approved by the City Council.

The city manager is the administrative head of the city and supervises heads of the Public Works, Public Safety (police and fire), and office staff. The city manager also administers the city’s personnel system, employs, maintains, and terminates city employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and city legislative and procedural provisions. And the city manager serves as secretary-treasurer to the Norris Water Commission. [Read more…]

Norris names interim city manager

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norris-town-center

An interim city manager has been named in Norris, according to The Norris Bulletin.

Long-time resident Joe Deatherage, who has a long record of community service and charitable work, was picked unanimously during a special Norris City Council meeting on Monday, the weekly publication said. Council moved quickly to fill the position left vacant by last week’s decision to replace the Norris city manager.

Deatherage, who retired from Lockheed-Martin after 30 years working in Oak Ridge, will serve temporarily until a permanent city manager can be chosen, The Norris Bulletin said. Deatherage said he would not be a candidate for the post beyond the next few months.

See The Norris Bulletin for more information. You can contact the publication at (865) 719-3550 or [email protected].

Watson to discuss State of the City on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give his perspective on issues facing the city at the next Lunch with the League on Tuesday, November 3. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League is open to the public. There is no cost to attend, and reservations are not needed. Box lunches will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for $8, or you may bring your own. Coffee and tea are provided.

In August 2010, Watson was selected as the city manager of Oak Ridge after a 30-year career in local government. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he served as city manager of six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration, a press release said. [Read more…]