Oak Ridge Today

Emergency sewer line repair work on Turnpike starts Monday

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will start emergency repair work on a sewer line that runs underneath Oak Ridge Turnpike on Monday.

Hurst Excavating LLC, a contractor for the City of Oak Ridge, will repair the sewer line at Robertsville Road and the northwest corner of Alvin K. Bissell Park. The work is expected to continue through Thursday, August 24.

“The Oak Ridge Turnpike will not be closed during the repairs,” a city press release said. “However, there may be work vehicles along the side of the roadway. Please use extreme care and caution and allow extra time when driving in this area.

Questions can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works information line at (865) 425-1875 or by email at PubWorksDis@OakRidgeTN.gov.

Next City Blueprint meeting scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 24

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Image by City of Oak Ridge

Image by City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Community Development Department is continuing the Oak Ridge City Blueprint effort with a discussion focused on the Emory Valley, Briarcliff, and Lakeview residential neighborhoods. An open house will be held between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, at Jefferson Middle School.

Families living in these subareas are encouraged to attend and provide ideas and suggestions for possible neighborhood improvements, a press release said. There is no formal presentation planned for this event. Those attending can come and go anytime during the open house to meet, ask questions, and share thoughts with city staff and board representatives.

What: Oak Ridge City Blueprint Open House

Emory Valley, Briarcliff, and Lakeview neighborhoods [Read more…]

Rezoning could allow commercial development on former AMSE property

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The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. The DoubleTree Hotel is at center-left, and the U.S. Post Office is at upper right. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 12.

A rezoning being considered by Oak Ridge municipal officials could allow commercial development on property that is now mostly a grass field south of the American Museum of Science and Energy. The 7.44-acre site could be used by retailers, restaurants, or groceries, or for office space or multi-family developments, according to a zoning change request filed by the owner.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider the rezoning request on Thursday. The request was filed by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC of Greenville, South Carolina. That company was set up by RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The property includes a grass field along South Illinois Avenue between South Tulane Avenue and Badger Avenue. The northern portion of the property includes part of the AMSE parking lot.

The parcel, appraised at $908,300, is located within the city’s central commercial core, the Oak Ridge city staff said in a review of the rezoning request. There are commercial properties on the opposite side of South Tulane Avenue, including the Main Street Oak Ridge redevelopment, the staff said. There is also commercial development on the other side of South Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Tree limb temporarily knocks out power to about 900 customers

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A Friday morning power outage caused by a tree limb temporarily knocked out power to about 900 customers, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Oak Ridge Electric Department Director Jack Suggs said electric service was interrupted at about 7:15 a.m. Friday to an area centered on Highland Avenue, including portions of Robertsville Road, West Outer Drive, and adjacent streets. The outage was caused by a tree limb that blew into the line near Robertsville, Suggs said.

The limb was located and removed. The system was inspected, and power was restored by about 8:25 a.m., Suggs said.

Girls Inc. art on display at Library in August

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The art exhibit at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of August is a collection of drawings and paintings by young artists from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

This organization first began in 1976 as a girls-only sports program, but quickly grew into an after school, summer camp, and sports program for girls between five and 18 years old. Girls Inc. serves more than 850 girls per year, a press release said.

Girls in the program are encouraged to be strong, smart, and bold, the press release said. [Read more…]

City tree board has workshop on emerald ash borer on Aug. 29

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An ash tree is pictured above in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

An ash tree is pictured above in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Tree Board is hosting a workshop focused on the impact of the emerald ash borer in the area. The event, scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 29, will provide important information regarding the emerald ash borer for property owners, landscapers, and others involved in the maintenance of green spaces, a press release said.

“Ash trees make up a significant percentage of our urban forest and have traditionally been a landscaping staple,” the press release said. “Many of these trees in Oak Ridge are already dead or beyond treatment, but a significant number can be saved. At the workshop later this month, experts from around the area will address issues such as identification of affected ash trees and responses to EAB (emerald ash borer) infestation, including appropriate treatment.”

Those who attend will learn about these pests and their origin and how they spread across the country, as well as the techniques used in diverse areas ranging from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to urban areas, such as Knoxville and surrounding municipalities. [Read more…]

Part of Tusculum Drive closed starting Monday for culvert replacement

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Photo by City of Oak Ridge

Photo by City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will close part of Tusculum Drive from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. starting Monday, August 7, so crews can replace a culvert under the road. The culvert replacement project is expected to be active until Wednesday, August 9, a press release said.

Residents will have access to their homes and driveways during this time, but the roadway will be closed to through traffic, the press release said.

“All work is subject to change based on such unknowns as the weather,” the release said. “Residents are urged to use extreme care and caution while driving in the area. All others are advised to use alternate routes. [Read more…]

Baldwin joins planning, design company in Knoxville

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Kathryn Baldwin

Kathryn Baldwin

 

Former Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin has joined Lose & Associates, a planning and design company that once developed a master plan for the Oak Ridge City Center.

Lose & Associates is a landscape architecture, architecture, civil engineering, and planning firm with offices in Nashville and Atlanta, a press release said. The company recently announced its expansion to the Knoxville area, in Franklin Square on Kingston Pike.

Baldwin, office manager and senior planner, will lead the Knoxville office, the press release said. She has a master’s degree in geography from East Tennessee State University, and she “brings a wealth of geographic knowledge, management skills, and technical knowledge to her new position,” the press release said.

Baldwin retired after 16 years with the City of Oak Ridge, and her last day was July 28. Wayne Blasius, who had been executive director of the nonprofit East Tennessee Community Design Center, has been hired to replace her, starting August 28. [Read more…]

EPA picks Oak Ridge to apply for new loan program for new water plant

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Oak-Ridge-Water-Treatment-Plant-2009-1

The Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant is pictured on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invited the City of Oak Ridge to apply for a new federal loan program for the city’s proposed new water plant, a press release said.

The City of Oak Ridge water plant is one of 12 projects in nine states to apply for more than $2 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loans, the EPA said in a press release Wednesday. The projects were selected from a group of 43 projects that submitted letters of interest to EPA in April 2017.

“Rebuilding America’s infrastructure is a critical pillar of the president’s agenda,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “These large-scale projects will improve water quality for 20 million Americans, especially those communities that need it the most—such as rural and urban communities.”

The press release said the City of Oak Ridge will design and construct a new 16 million-gallons-per-day membrane treatment plant and associated equipment to replace the existing decades-old conventional treatment plant, which is currently at capacity and beyond its useful life.

Among the city’s water plant customers are Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

“This project will provide sufficient capacity to meet the city’s water needs by continuing the production and delivery of safe potable drinking water to its customers,” the EPA press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge City Blueprint neighborhood meeting scheduled for July 27

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Oak-Ridge-City-Blueprint-Jan-26-2017-Web

An estimated 400 people attended a kick-off meeting for an Oak Ridge City Blueprint at Grove Theater on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Development Department is continuing the Oak Ridge City Blueprint effort with a discussion focused on the High Ridge West and Southwood residential neighborhoods. An open house will be held between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, at Oak Ridge Country Club to gather additional community feedback, a press release said.

“Families living in both of these subareas are encouraged to attend and provide their ideas and suggestions for possible neighborhood improvements,” the press release said. “Those attending can come and go any time during the open house to share thoughts with city staff and board representatives.”

What: Oak Ridge City Blueprint Discussion

High Ridge West/Southwood Community Open House

When: Thursday, July 27 [Read more…]

Oak Ridge hires new community development director

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Wayne Blasius

Wayne Blasius

 

Oak Ridge has hired a new community development director.

Wayne Blasius was selected to lead the department earlier this month, and he will start in his new position on August 28, a press release said.

Blasius is currently executive director of the nonprofit East Tennessee Community Design Center, the press release said.

“I am extremely pleased to announce that Wayne Blasius will be joining us in the City of Oak Ridge as our new director of community development,” City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “Wayne brings to us extensive public and private sector experience. He is particularly knowledgeable about the many changes in housing and public spaces in Knoxville and will bring that experience to Oak Ridge as we continue our own community renaissance and redevelopment.”

Blasius will replace Kathryn Baldwin, Oak Ridge’s current community development director. Baldwin announced in May that she is retiring after 16 years of service with the city, and her last day is July 28. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool expands schedule for 2017

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge Outdoor Municipal Pool will be extending open hours into August of 2017. New hours will begin Monday, July 31, a press release said.

For the dates of Monday, July 31, through Friday, August 18, the extended hours are as follows:

  • Monday-Friday: 100-meter lap swim and kiddie pool open 9 a.m.-12 p.m.*
  • Wednesdays: After school open swim 3 p.m.-8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Open swim 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

* Note: The 100-meter lap swim and kiddie pool will be closed for a special event on August 2, 2017. [Read more…]