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IDB approves tax abatement as MCLinc plans to build at Horizon Center

Posted at 7:48 pm October 5, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Barry Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of MCLinc, discusses the analytical testing laboratory's plan to build a 29,000-square-foot building at Horizon Center during an Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Barry Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of MCLinc, discusses the analytical testing laboratory’s plan to build a 29,000-square-foot building at Horizon Center during an Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A city board on Monday approved a six-year, 50 percent property tax abatement for a company that plans to move from Heritage Center, the former K-25 site, to Horizon Center, a few miles northeast.

MCLinc is now in Building K-1006 at Heritage Center, which is also known as East Tennessee Technology Park. A conference center at ETTP’s main entrance is leased for special events, and MCLinc has the next building on the right. It’s been home to a laboratory since 1965. MCLinc (Materials and Chemistry Laboratory) has been there since 1998, when the company started.

But the building is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, and it is slated for demolition, said Barry Stephenson, MCLinc president and chief executive officer. Attempts to acquire the building have not panned out, Stephenson told the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board on Monday.

Three years ago, the company, an analytical testing laboratory, received notice that they have to move, Stephenson said. He told the IDB that MCLinc has to be out of the building by September 2018. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Barry Stephenson, Buzz Patrick, David Mason, David Wilson, East Tennessee Technology Park, Hal Osucha, Harold Trapp, Heritage Center, Horizon Center, Louise Dunlap, Materials and Chemistry Laboratory, MCLinc, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Phil Yager, PILOT agreement, property tax abatement, Richard Chinn, tax abatement, U.S. Department of Energy

Guest column: The Oak Ridge High School debt chronicles

Posted at 11:23 pm February 26, 2014
By Trina Baughn 9 Comments

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

The Oak Ridge High School Debt Chronicles—How a $40 Million Project Will Cost Taxpayers Over $126 Million (So Far) 

It appears that the nearly three-year long debate between the Oak Ridge City Council and the Board of Education (BOE) over who owes what on the high school renovation project—the single largest financial expenditure that this city has ever made—is about to be resolved once and for all (or so some hope). To many, this will provide a welcomed relief. For all, it will once again extend and increase a debt obligation far beyond what anyone ever imagined.

Just over one week after the initial public revealing, council will vote on a resolution to end the debate on the high school mortgage issue. The root problem that this resolution will address is not ambiguity in the 2004 referendum or in any “gentlemen’s agreements.” No, the reason that this resolution is necessary, according to the fifth “Whereas,” is “changing community economics and increasing educational needs.”  The need for this resolution, which will violate the original understanding and intent of the 2004 referendum, boils down to an implied need by the Oak Ridge schools for more money.

If passed, this resolution will allow the BOE to retain the portion of the half-cent sales tax revenues collected outside of the City of Oak Ridge and will accomplish the following: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: Anderson County, Angi Agle, Anne Garcia Garland, BOE, Bruce Borchers, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, Dan DiGregorio, David Bradshaw, David Mosby, debt, debt repayment, Ellen Smith, gentlemen's agreements, high school debt, high school mortgage, high school renovation, Jane Miller, Janice McGinnis, Jenny Richter, John Smith, Keys Fillauer, Leonard Abbatiello, Louise Dunlap, maintenance of effort, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, ORHS, principal, referendum, resolution, sales tax increase, sales tax revenues, Tom Bailey, Tom Beehan, Tom Hayes, Tracy Larabee, Trina Baughn, Willie Golden

ORCMA, ORICL benefit from John Million bequest

Posted at 9:06 pm March 8, 2013
By Carolyn Krause Leave a Comment

John George Million Jr.

John George Million Jr. (Submitted photo)

John Million had a lifelong love affair with classical music, opera, and classic books. Before he died on March 21, 2012, he made sure that two Oak Ridge nonprofit organizations that contributed to his cultural enjoyment would benefit greatly from his legacy.

Dan Allcott, conductor of the Oak Ridge Symphony and Chorus, said: “The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association is honored to be the recipient of a significant bequest from the estate of John Million. The six-figure donation to ORCMA gives us stability during tough economic times.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Connie Ellisor, Dan Allcott, John George Million Jr., Louise Dunlap, Nancy Bischoff, Oak Ridge Chorus, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, Oak Ridge Symphony and Chorus, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, ORCMA, ORICL, ORSO, Schubert, Spring in the Mountains, Stephen Seifert, The Bell Witch

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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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