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Council could consider backyard chicken ordinance in May

Posted at 12:30 pm April 22, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Mark-Watson-and-Kayla-Wyatt-April-19-2016

Pictured above during an Oak Ridge City Council work session on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, are Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, left, and Kayla Wyatt, an advocate for allowing a small number of hens at Oak Ridge homes. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m.

The Oak Ridge City Council could consider a backyard chicken ordinance in May. If adopted, the ordinance could allow residents to have a small number of chickens, maybe up to a half-dozen hens, in places where they’re not allowed now.

Council is expected to use a Knoxville ordinance as a model. Knoxville allows domesticated chickens under an ordinance approved in 2010. An annual $25 permit is required to keep the birds, up to six chickens (hens only) are allowed, and they must be kept in a fenced enclosure at all times. They are for personal use only, and the slaughtering of chickens is prohibited.

Knoxville also requires a $50 fee for a building permit for the fenced enclosure and for a required henhouse, which must be covered and predator-resistant.

The Oak Ridge City Council could conceivably have several options in May: adopt the Knoxville ordinance without any changes, adopt a modified version of it, reject it, or defer it or send it to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission for further review. Planning Commission can’t accept it or reject it but can recommend that Council do so.

Oak Ridge officials have considered allowing backyard chickens before. In April 2010, the Oak Ridge City Council voted 4-3 against a resolution that would have kept alive a previous proposal. Two current Council members, Charlie Hensley and Ellen Smith, voted in favor of referring the proposal to the Planning Commission, which could have then consulted with interested residents and other city boards. The rejected resolution also would have directed former Interim City Manager Gary Cinder to draft an ordinance to amend the city code. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Anne Garcia Garland, backyard chickens, Charlie Hensley, chicken ordinance, Gary Cinder, Jane Miller, Kayla Wyatt, Kelly Callison, Knoxville ordinance, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Backyard Chickens, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Rick Chinn, Trina Baughn

New Public Works director hired in Oak Ridge

Posted at 6:28 pm January 27, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Shira McWaters

Shira McWaters (From LinkedIn profile)

Shira McWaters, a civil engineer who is now an associate at a company in Arizona, has been hired as Public Works director in Oak Ridge.

McWaters will replace former Public Works Director Gary Cinder, who retired in September 2015.

The appointment was announced by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.

McWaters will administer all Public Works activities for the city. The Public Works Department, with approximately 100 full-time employees, is responsible for the maintenance of city streets, all city-owned buildings, stormwater management, water treatment, distribution, and wastewater collections systems, and for the maintenance, service, and repair of all city automotive vehicles, heavy equipment, and stationary equipment.

The Department also prepares and administers the Solid Waste Collection contract and provides staff representation to the Traffic Safety Advisory Board. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Civil Engineer, Gary Cinder, Mark Watson, Public Works, Public Works Department, Public Works Director, Shira McWaters, Tata and Howard

New ORHS traffic signal starts operating Wednesday

Posted at 9:57 am December 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center will start operating on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new traffic light in front of Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike will start operating on Wednesday, December 30.

The stoplight has been operating in a temporary, flashing mode since the week of December 14.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The Oak Ridge City Council approved a contract to install the stoplight in a 4-3 vote in April. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Government, Government, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Gary Cinder, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Roger Flynn, S&W Contracting Company Inc., stoplight, traffic light, traffic signal

New stoplight at ORHS could start flashing next week, begin operating Dec. 30

Posted at 4:11 pm December 11, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center could start flashing next week and begin operating on Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike could start flashing next week and begin operating on December 30, a city official said. The new stoplight is between Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Civic Center.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The light poles and power have been installed, but the lights themselves still need to be hung and work on signs for the traffic light is under way. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Gary Cinder, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Public Works, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Roger Flynn, stoplight

Five years and $17 million later, city satisfies EPA Clean Water order

Posted at 12:06 pm September 9, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Emory Valley Road Sewer System Holding Tanks

Workers assemble a sewer system holding tank near Emory Valley Road on Wednesday afternoon, April 1, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Five years and $17 million later, Oak Ridge has satisfied a federal administrative order that required the city to repair all sewer system overflows by the end of this month, officials announced Wednesday.

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said he has received a “closure letter” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stating the City’s Administrative Order pursuant to the Clean Water Act has been fulfilled, a press release said. The letter, signed by James Giattina, director the Water Protection Division at EPA’s regional office in Atlanta, states that the EPA Region 4 “has determined that the city has satisfied the requirements of the referenced order and hereby closes the order.”

In 2010, the EPA filed an administrative order against the city for excess “Inflow and Infiltration” affecting the wastewater collection lines within the city’s primary service areas. The EPA considered the reported system overflows and piped overflows to be a violation of the Clean Water Act, the press release said. The administrative order contained various program requirements to eliminate the overflows, ensure adequate capacity system wide, and to develop a formal management, operation, and maintenance program, or MOM.

“I am pleased to report that the challenge of the EPA administrative order charged against our city is over!” Watson said. “We have received written confirmation that we have done a substantial job in addressing the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency against Oak Ridge. The order is now closed and we can begin to maintain a consistent and ongoing maintenance effort of this important sewage infrastructure for the community.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: administrative order, Clean Water Act, Ellen Smith, EPA, EPA Region 4, Gary Cinder, James Giattina, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Public Works, sewer system, sewer system overflows, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Protection Division

Merchants frustrated with progress at Jackson Square; protest sign posted

Posted at 4:23 pm July 4, 2015
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Jackson Square Parking Lot Renovations Sign

There has been some frustration among merchants at Jackson Square about not being able to use the partially paved parking lot while they wait for renovations to be completed. This protest sign saying “Free Our Parking Lot!!” was posted on Wednesday.

 

Merchants have grown frustrated with the pace of renovations at Jackson Square, and on Wednesday a protest sign was posted. “Free Our Parking Lot!” said the sign, which has since been removed.

For now, the parking lot inside Jackson Square remains closed off behind construction fencing as work continues on a $1 million renovation mostly funded by a state grant awarded in 2012.

But merchants wonder why they can’t use the parking lot since it was used for the Lavender Festival on June 20.

Compounding their frustration is the closure of the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field. It’s one of two lots on the north side of Broadway Avenue and Jackson Square. Employees at nearby businesses who used to park in the Blankenship Field lot are now using the second lot, the one used by the Farmers Market, reducing the parking spaces available there, one merchant said.

The Blankenship Field work, which was approved by the Oak Ridge City Council in June, is also causing concern for the Farmers Market. The Farmer Market’s vendors set up in the second parking lot on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and they now don’t have parking available at either the Blankenship Field lot or inside the Jackson Square lot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Angel Rich Johnson, Anne Garcia Garland, Bill Haslam, Blankenship Field, Broadway Avenue, City of Oak Ridge, construction, Ellen Smith, farmer's market, Gary Cinder, interactive fountain, Jack Armstrong Stadium, Jackson Square, Lavender Festival, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Farmers Market, parking lot, pedestrian plaza, protest, Rich Construction, Rich Construction Inc., Roger Flynn, Rogers Group, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant, Trina Baughn, Warren Gooch

Cinder, public works director, to retire Sept. 4

Posted at 11:04 pm June 16, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Gary Cinder

Gary Cinder

Gary Cinder, who has been Oak Ridge public works director for 24 years and interim city manager twice, is retiring September 4.

Cinder has been in public service for 33 years. He could go to work in the private sector, possibly as a consultant.

“It’s time to try something new, something different,” Cinder told Oak Ridge City Council members on Tuesday.

Cinder was the lead staff member on locating, designing, and building the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. That building is used by the Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Oak Ridge Electric Department, and the school bus maintenance facility, among others.

Cinder has led a major effort to ensure that Oak Ridge complies with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order that requires the city to repair all sewer system overflows by September 28. That work is mostly complete, and the city is in good shape, Cinder said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Central Service Complex, city manager, Gary Cinder, infrastructure, Jim O'Connor, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Roger Flynn, sewer system, Steve Byrd, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Council to consider more funding, contract for Blankenship Field parking lot

Posted at 10:23 am June 1, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Blankenship Field Parking Lot

The lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation.

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider increasing the amount of money to be used for parking lot work at Blankenship Field, and members will also consider awarding a contract for the project during a meeting tonight (Monday, June 1).

The City Council agreed in May 2014 to use $180,000 in traffic camera money for improvements to the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation.

Council agreed to increase that amount to a maximum of $250,000 in July 2014, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said in a May 26 memo to City Manager Mark Watson.

But the work could cost $264,791, according to a proposed contract from Rogers Group Inc. of Oak Ridge that the Council will consider tonight. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, High School, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Sports Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Blankenship Revitalization Committee, Gary Cinder, Mark Watson, Michael Brady Inc., Oak Ridge City Council, parking lot, Rogers Group Inc.

Blankenship Field parking lot project could cost $225,000

Posted at 10:34 pm April 18, 2015
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Blankenship Field Parking Lot

The lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation.

 

A parking lot paving project at Blankenship Field could cost $225,000, according to an engineering estimate, a city official said Monday.

The City of Oak Ridge is working with the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation to address some questions about the work, Public Works Director Gary Cinder said at a City Council meeting on Monday.

The Oak Ridge City Council agreed in May 2014 to use $180,000 in traffic camera money for improvements to the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, High School, Oak Ridge, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, bleachers, City of Oak Ridge, football games, Gary Cinder, Jackson Square, Jackson Square revitalization, lower parking lot, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, parking lot

Jackson Square fountain won’t be ready by Lavender Fest, but other work should be

Posted at 9:38 pm April 18, 2015
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Jackson Square Parking Lot Work

The interactive fountain in the center of the Jackson Square parking lot won’t be finished before the Lavender Festival in June, but work around the fountain should be completed by then, a city official said Monday.

 

The interactive fountain won’t be in place by the Lavender Festival in June, but other perimeter work around the Jackson Square parking lot should be completed, a city official said Monday.

Construction work on the $1 million rebuild of the parking lot area at Jackson Square started in January. The construction contract was awarded to Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City by the Oak Ridge City Council in October.

The work is funded with help from a $741,609 Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was awarded to the city in June 2012. The TDOT grant covers 80 percent of the work, and it requires a 20 percent city match.

Jackson Square is Oak Ridge’s original town center. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Angel Rich Johnson, enhancement grant, farmer's market, Gary Cinder, interactive fountain, Jackson Square, Lavender Festival, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Public Works, revitalization, Rich Construction Inc., Roger Flynn, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation

City agreed to use $150K, but low bid on Preschool paint job is $25K

Posted at 9:08 pm April 18, 2015
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Oak Ridge Preschool and School Administration Building

The Oak Ridge City Council has agreed to use $150,000 in unspent red-light camera to repair the lead-based paint on the Oak Ridge Schools Preschool and Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building on New York Avenue. Officials say the building needs to be renovated or vacated for the Head Start program to receive funding in the 2015-2016 school year. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council had agreed to use $150,000 in red-light camera money to repair the lead-based paint on the city’s Preschool, but the low bid came in significantly lower—$24,700, Public Works Director Gary Cinder said Monday.

The five bids ranged up to about $112,000, Cinder told the Oak Ridge City Council.

The low bidder has done some of this type of work at the Preschool before, Cinder said.

The work is expected to be done by this fall. It provides what officials hope will be a temporary fix while they develop a plan to permanently repair, replace, or move the Preschool. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Head Start, bids, Gary Cinder, Head Start, lead-based paint, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Preschools, Oak Ridge Schools, preschool, Public Works, Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building, SAB Building

Council approves ORHS stoplight contract in 4-3 vote

Posted at 5:50 pm April 14, 2015
By John Huotari 8 Comments

Oak Ridge Turnpike Stoplight at Oak Ridge High School

In a 4-3 vote Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council approved a contract to install a traffic signal at the Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:42 a.m. April 15.

The City Council approved a contract to install a stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School in a 4-3 vote on Monday.

Public Works Director Gary Cinder said the light will be green most of the time on Oak Ridge Turnpike. But it will turn red when cars are leaving the High School, giving those drivers a green light.

And the traffic signal lights will turn all-red when pedestrians are crossing, Cinder said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: American with Disabilities Act, Andy Howe, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, Ellen Smith, Emory Valley Road, Gary Cinder, Kelly Callison, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Turnpike, pedestrian bridge, Public Library, Public Works, Rick Chinn, S&W Contracting, S&W Contracting Company Inc., special programs fund, stoplight, Traffic Safety Advisory Board, traffic signal, Trina Baughn, TSAB, Warren Gooch

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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...]

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