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DOE wants Clark Center Park to remain recreational if transferred to city

Posted at 4:48 am August 7, 2014
By John Huotari 8 Comments

Clark Center Park Water View

A view of Melton Hill Lake near a boat ramp and between two picnic areas at Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge.

 

The U.S. Department of Energy wants to ensure that Clark Center Park remains a “recreational park asset” if it is transferred to the city of Oak Ridge, an official said this week.

That ought to be good news to park supporters. Some of them have expressed concern that the 80-acre park could be turned into a gated community or a waterfront development featuring “McMansions” if DOE turns the property over to the city.

John C. Shewairy, assistant manager for administration in DOE’s Oak Ridge Office, said federal officials are interested in transferring the property to the city as a “public benefit conveyance.”

“Given the park’s benefit to the citizens of Oak Ridge, the option we currently favor would be to transfer ownership to the city at no cost, provided that the property remains a recreational park asset for the public,” Shewairy said. “We are focused on this possible option.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: DOE, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Office, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Bill Richardson, Carbide Park, City of Oak Ridge, Clark Center Park, DOE, Freels Bend, Gallaher Bend, Gallaher Bend Greenway, John Shewairy, Mark Watson, Melton hill lake, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom, Oak Ridge Office, public benefit, recreational park, Solway Bend, Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area, transfer, U.S. Department of Energy

Council gives schools $250,000, school shutdown avoided

Posted at 5:29 pm September 17, 2013
By John Huotari 21 Comments

Bruce Borchers and Mark Watson

During a special meeting Tuesday, Oak Ridge municipal officials agreed to give the city school system an extra $250,000 to avoid a potential loss of millions of dollars in state funding and avert a possible Oct. 1 school shutdown. Pictured above are Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers, left, and City Manager Mark Watson, who recommended the extra funding on Tuesday. (File photo)

In a short special meeting Tuesday, the Oak Ridge City Council agreed to give the city’s schools $250,000 to allow the system to avoid a potential loss of millions of dollars in state funding and avert a possible Oct. 1 shutdown.

The one-time transfer will come from higher-than-expected sales tax revenues in Roane County.

The vote was 4-1-1. Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller, and Council members Chuck Hope and Charlie Hensley voted in favor of the extra funding, which had been recommended by City Manager Mark Watson. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anne Garcia Garland, Basic Education Program, BEP, Bruce Borchers, budget, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, David Mosby, debt, Jane Miller, maintenance of effort, Maryanne M. Durski, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, referendum, revenues, sales tax, school funding, school shutdown, shortfall, Tennessee Department of Education, Tom Beehan, transfer, Trina Baughn

Guest column: Oak Ridge Schools explain funding issues, maintenance of effort test

Posted at 12:33 pm September 10, 2013
By Oak Ridge Schools 2 Comments

In the spirit of collaboration, the Oak Ridge Schools would like to share pertinent information in regard to the current maintenance of effort (MOE) issue that faces our community. Tennessee law requires that local governments fund local school systems by at least the same amount each year.

In August, Oak Ridge Schools were notified by the State Department of Education, Office of Local Finance, about the failure to pass the MOE test. Failure to correct this problem by Oct. 1 will result in a loss of Basic Education Program (BEP) funding at a rate of $1.87 million per month.

The only possible resolution to satisfy state law is an increase in local funding from the city general fund in the amount of $250,000. This budget amendment would need to be approved in two readings by City Council, and two readings by the Board of Education.

Numerous meetings have occurred between city and schools staff. In addition, the “high school debt/potential failure of MOE” item has been an ongoing discussion for the past two years. To date, no meetings have been scheduled by the City Council to make the necessary budget amendments. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: ADM, Anderson County, average daily membership, Basic Education Program, BEP, BEP funding, budget, City of Oak Ridge, funding, maintenance of effort, MOE, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, ORHS, sales tax, shortfall, Tennessee Department of Education, transfer

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Classifieds

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...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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