Oak Ridge Today

BBB: OS water, sewer rate hike likely

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs Town Council met Thursday night in regular session and then held a budget workshop. Our partners at BBB-TV report that the main topic at the workshop was how much of an increase in water and sewer rates will be necessary to offset a projected shortfall of almost $248,000 in the city’s Water and Sewer Department.

The city has already borrowed some $2.5 million to pay for repairs to the city’s aging sewer plant as mandated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and repaying that loan led to much of the projected shortfall.

During the workshop, officials seemed to indicate that a 15 percent hike will be needed this year, but that will not be enough to meet future needs. Keeping the city’s Water and Sewer department going could require 2 percent to 3 percent rate hikes each year for the next several years.

No votes were taken during Thursday’s work session. The Oliver Springs Water Board will meet again on June 4 and could take some action at that time.

Oliver Springs Town Council appoints new member

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Information from Dudley Evans/BBB-TV

The Oliver Springs Town Council on Thursday night voted 5-0 to appoint Don Shillings to serve out the remaining two-plus years of former Alderman James Brummitt’s term.

Brummitt resigned two weeks ago from the alderman’s position, saying he wanted to devote more time to family and his other political seat as as Roane County commissioner, where he also serves as chairman. Shillings was one of two names brought before the Council during the meeting. He was present and, immediately after the vote, was sworn in and took his seat.

No stranger to politics, Shillings served two terms on the Oliver Springs Town Council in the past, one a four-year term and the other a two-year term. He thanked his fellow council members and the mayor for their support, and he said he looks forward to serving the citizens again in Ward 6.

Brummitt resigns from Oliver Springs Council

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Information from WYSH Radio

During Thursday’s meeting of the Town Council, Oliver Springs Mayor Chris Hepler asked council members to accept a letter of resignation from Alderman James Brummitt, who has decided to resign his seat on the Council, effective immediately.

Brummitt, who also serves as chairman of the Roane County Commission, had served three terms on the Oliver Springs Town Council.

The mayor did not offer any specific reason for Brummitt’s decision to step down, but it’s been clear to many observers that he and new City Manager Tina Treece have differed on several policies and procedures since she replaced David Bolling. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs has new city manager

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Oliver Springs has a new city manager.

The Oliver Springs Town Council agreed last week to offer the job to Tina Treece, a former city recorder and interim city manager in Spring City, and she has accepted, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Treece started Monday.

[Read more…]

Oliver Springs offers city manager job to Treece

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The Oliver Springs Town Council voted Thursday 3-2, with one abstention, to offer the city manager job to Tina Treece of Rhea County, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The town has been without a permanent city manager since earlier this year when David Bolling stepped down to accept a similar job in Maine.

[Read more…]

Oliver Springs picks Kelley as city manager

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OLIVER SPRINGS—The Oliver Springs Town Council has picked the son of the city’s former mayor to become city manager.

The Council agreed in a 4-1 vote Thursday night to have Oliver Springs Mayor Chris Hepler negotiate with Eddie Kelley Jr. for the position. Kelley is the son of former Oliver Springs Mayor Ed Kelley, and he is also the city’s part-time parks director.

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Oliver Springs city manager pick delayed

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Oliver Springs Town Council

The Oliver Springs Town Council agrees to interview a third candidate for city manager. Pictured above from left are Council members James Brummett and Terry Holland, Mayor Chris Hepler, and Council members Omer Cox and Maurice Walker.

OLIVER SPRINGS — The self-imposed deadline to hire a new city manager has already passed, and the Oliver Springs Town Council agreed Thursday to wait another two weeks so they can interview a third candidate who didn’t respond to an earlier interview offer.

The candidate, John Hannah of Waynesville, N.C., now says he is very interested in the job, Oliver Springs Mayor Chris Hepler told Council members. But Hannah hasn’t explained why he didn’t respond to an earlier interview offer, Hepler said.

Hannah, a civil engineer who has been an adjunct professor and project manager, had been one of eight finalists for the position, which has been open since former City Manager David Bolling resigned in February to take a job in Newcastle, Maine.

[Read more…]