The Ferguson Group Archives

Gooch: Main Street No. 1 priority, gives updates on National Park, reappraisals, airport

Posted at 1:08 am May 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Main Street Oak Ridge Site Plan April 16, 2015

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch on Tuesday said his number one priority for the community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge, which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above is a cropped picture of the Main Street Oak Ridge site plan as of April 16. A link to a larger PDF version of the plan is included in the story below.

Note: Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch gave an update on positive developments and challenges during a talk to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 5. Here is a lightly edited version of his remarks, which organized the positive developments and challenges into sections. Gooch was appointed mayor by the seven-member Oak Ridge City Council on November 24. This is his first four-year term on the City Council.

It is a distinct privilege for me to serve as your mayor, but I always preface my remarks by saying that I am not speaking today for Council or for the city manager. I have one vote on Council, but I do consider myself to be the chairman of the board of directors for the city.

In that capacity, as I enter my sixth month of service as mayor, I want to share my thoughts about positive developments in our city, discuss near-term challenges that we face, share the results that I have from the community survey that I have been conducting, and leave time for your questions and comments.

First. My number one priority for our community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge (which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall), and it is moving forward. Last week, Crosland Southeast announced that MDC Development Group of Atlanta will be the hotel developer for the project. MDC is also a major developer in the senior housing industry and 15 months ago opened Canterfield Oak Ridge Assisted Living. It has been very successful and well-received in our community.

I was advised yesterday (Monday, May 4) that the retail leasing component of the Main Street project is moving forward, as are the negotiations with a developer for the multi-family housing component of the Main Street project. Groundbreaking and demolition for Main Street is on schedule to begin by June 30. [Read more…]

Council to discuss impact of proposed DOE landfill during Friday meeting

Posted at 12:29 am May 5, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Reservation with Bear Creek Valley

The proposed Environmental Management Disposal Facility would be built between the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility, or EMWMF.

Oak Ridge officials will discuss the community impact of a proposed landfill that would hold waste from cleanup work at federal sites during a work session on Friday.

The Oak Ridge City Council work session is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 8, in the Municipal Building Training Room.

Council will be briefed on the Draft Community Impact Assessment of the proposed Environmental Management Disposal Facility by Karl Kalbacher, project manager for The Ferguson Group, a company that helps the city with its federal legislative agenda in Washington, D.C.

The Environmental Management Disposal Facility would be built on Bear Creek Road west of the Y-12 National Security Complex near another landfill that is already in use and has been operating since 2002. It could cost $1 billion, including construction and 23 years of operations. [Read more…]

Assessment team to visit DOE disposal facility, meet with community

Posted at 10:44 am September 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Three members of the consulting team selected to conduct a community impact assessment of the U.S. Department of Energy’s proposed Environmental Management Disposal Facility will visit Oak Ridge on Monday and Tuesday, September 8 and 9. The purpose of the visit is to tour the existing disposal facility and the site of the proposed EMDF, to gather information, and to meet with local stakeholders, a press release said.

The team members are Karl Kalbacher, project manager and director of environment, economics and grant services for The Ferguson Group in Washington, D.C.; Mark Rockel, principal consultant for ENVIRON International Corporation; and Jason Miller, principal of ENVIRON International Corporation.

The team will be available to meet community stakeholders on both days: [Read more…]

Council to consider DOE wastewater billing; lobbying, economic development contracts

Posted at 8:48 am June 2, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above during an August 2013 meeting. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider adding a facilities charge to the U.S. Department of Energy’s monthly wastewater bill for costs related to the construction of a holding tank, or equalization basin, near the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The equalization basin on Scarboro Lane, near the intersection of Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue, will service wastewater coming out of the federal reservation, city officials said. Wastewater flows from DOE facilities are estimated to be 67 percent of the total wastewater flow coming into that equalization basin, which will replace a now-demolished car wash near the intersection.

Assuming a 67 percent-33 percent split between DOE and the city, DOE’s share of the cost for construction of the Scarboro Lane equalization basin is estimated at $1.4 million, city officials said. DOE could pay another $24,190 per month as part of its wastewater bill for 60 months starting in July, Oak Ridge Finance Director Janice E. McGinnis said. [Read more…]

Council cuts spending on lobbyists by $83K

Posted at 11:00 pm June 14, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council has unanimously agreed to cut the amount spent each year on state and federal lobbying in Nashville and Washington, D.C., by about $83,000.

Pay for the federal lobbying firm, The Ferguson Group of Washington, D.C., will be reduced from $102,000 per year to $30,000–at an hourly rate of $425 per hour. Once the firm reaches the $30,000 cap, the city manager would have to approve extra hours.

[Read more…]

Federal lobbyist’s pay could be cut 70 percent

Posted at 5:20 pm June 8, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The city’s federal lobbying firm could have its annual compensation reduced by about 70 percent under a contract the Oak Ridge City Council will consider Monday.

The Ferguson Group of Washington, D.C., has earned up to $102,000 per year to lobby for Oak Ridge in the nation’s capital.

However, under the proposed contract, The Ferguson Group could earn $30,000 at an hourly rate of $425 per hour. Once the firm reaches the $30,000 cap, the city manager would have to approve extra hours.