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Workers building sewer system holding tank near Emory Valley Road

Posted at 9:03 pm April 1, 2015
By John Huotari 19 Comments

Emory Valley Road Sewer System Holding Tanks

Workers assemble a sewer system holding tank near Emory Valley Road and Fairbanks Road on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Workers have been assembling a sewer system holding tank near Emory Valley Road and Fairbanks Road. It’s one of three tanks that will help Oak Ridge comply with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order that requires the city to end all sewer system overflows by September 2015.

The Emory Valley Road tank is on a roughly one-acre tract on the east side of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center. The other two tanks will be built near the intersection of South Illinois Avenue and Scarboro Road, just down the street from the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex, and in an isolated, industrial area off Cairo Road in east Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge City Council approved the locations for the three tanks, officially known as equalization basins, in September 2013. The Anderson County Commission agreed to donate a small parcel of land for the Emory Valley Road tank. And the City Council agreed in December 2013 to buy a car wash owned by businessman Terry Mulllins for $125,000 and replace it with the tank at Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue as part of a plan to move that equalization basin farther back from the road. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Cairo Road, Emory Valley Road, EPA, EPA order, equalization basin, Fairbanks Road, Gary Cinder, holding tanks, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Public Works, Scarboro Road, sewer, sewer system, sewer system holding tank, sewer system overflows, South Illinois Avenue, storm water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Electric, Public Works directors at Lunch with League on Tuesday

Posted at 6:35 pm February 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jack Suggs

Jack Suggs

Submitted

As we go about daily life in Oak Ridge, we don’t ordinarily think about where wastewater goes or where the electricity we use comes from. When the monthly utility bill arrives from the City of Oak Ridge, the cost of electricity, water, and sewer may surprise us and make us wonder about the cost and changes in rates.

Gary Cinder, director of Oak Ridge Public Works, and Jack Suggs, Oak Ridge Electric Department director, will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 3, and they will provide insights into their departments’ activities and responsibilities. The program will be held at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s new location at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, electric grid, electric rates, electricity, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Green Power Community, Gary Cinder, Jack Suggs, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Oak Ridge Public Works, sanitary sewer overflows, sewer, Tennessee Valley Authority Platinum Community, wastewater, water

Anderson Commission Chair Fritts seeks re-election

Posted at 11:23 am July 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Chuck Fritts

Chuck Fritts

Chairman Chuck Fritts is seeking re-election to the Anderson County Commission, representing District 1. District 1 includes the Bull Run and Claxton precincts.

“It has truly been an honor and a privilege to represent the residents of District 1 on the Anderson County Commission,” Fritts said in a press release. “I take very seriously the trust that you have placed in me, and it is my desire that you will allow me to continue to serve you and, working with my fellow commissioners, to move Anderson County forward.”

First elected in 2002, Fritts said he brings valuable experience, knowledge, and leadership to the Anderson County Commission and has worked hard to represent the residents of District 1.

“He has taken this position very seriously and has worked long hours to do the job he felt he was elected to do,” the press release said. “He is not only well-known throughout Anderson County, but also throughout the state of Tennessee.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Regional Solid Waste Board, Briceville library, Bull Run, Bull Run Steam Plant, Chuck Fritts, Claxton, Claxton Elementary Schools, Clinton High School, David Hall Cabin, District 1, early voting, Edgemoor Road, Elza Gate, fund balance, general election, Keep Anderson County Beautiful, New Henderson Road, Old Edgemoor Road, Roane State Community College, sewer, State Route 116, tax increment financing, Tennessee County Commissioner Association, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, Y-12 National Security Complex

Guest column: Council member proposes alternatives to raising water, sewer rates

Posted at 9:38 pm August 29, 2013
By Trina Baughn 7 Comments

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

On Sept. 9, your Oak Ridge City Council will likely vote to approve additional water and sewer rate increases. When combined with the last two increases, the average user’s bill will have spiked 62 percent in just 34 months. Subsequently, should council adopt the fully proposed schedule through 2019, most residents and businesses will be paying double what they were paying prior to the initial increase imposed in May 2012.

These increases are to pay for the $33 million of debt that the city incurred in the last two years in addition to a projected $15 million more that Public Works says is still needed. We are continuing to borrow without limits and without regard for your ability to pay such astronomical bills.

Much of this debt could have been reduced or avoided all together had your city government taken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency up on the many opportunities they gave us to make corrections. (See my Feb. 24 post at trinabaughn.com entitled, “The Rest of the EPA Mandate Story.”) Unfortunately, we’ve screwed up so many times that we were too fearful to pursue leniencies that are now being afforded to many cities across the nation. So, while others have 20-25 years to comply and can spread out costs to minimize the hit their ratepayers will take, Oak Ridge has just five years and is forcing the entire burden on its residents and businesses. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: advertising, debt, drainage fees, EPA, golf course, hiring freeze, land bank, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Public Works, payment in lieu of taxes, PILT, rate increases, sewer, sewer rates, Trina Baughn, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water, water rates

BBB: OS Budget Committee recommends water, sewer, tax rate increases

Posted at 7:27 pm June 14, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

On Thursday, the Oliver Springs Budget Committee recommended a tax rate increase and across-the-board water and sewer rate increases as they prepare to adopt a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

BBB-TV reported that the committee recommended water and sewer rate increases for both residential and commercial customers as the city prepares to apply for a loan to make improvements to its aging wastewater plant. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oliver Springs, Top Stories Tagged With: BBB-TV, budget, Eddie Kelly, insurance, Oliver Springs Budget Committee, Oliver Springs City Council, parks and recreation director, property taxes, rate increases, sewer, water, WYSH

Norris budget approved with no tax hike

Posted at 7:16 pm June 14, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday, the Norris City Council voted on second and final reading to adopt its budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The budget approved this week contains no property tax rate increase, but it does provide 2 percent cost-of-living raises for city workers.

The Council did approve rate increases in water and sewer service that should cause customers’ bills to go up by anywhere from $5 to $10 a month. The increased rates are needed to pay for sewer improvements mandated by the state that will be undertaken during the next three years.

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: budget, Norris City Council, property tax rate, raises, rates, sewer, water

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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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