The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the March 14, 2016 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet is found here and a video of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will be posted on the city website in the April 2016 Regular Meeting … Continue reading Council Votes: 3/14/16 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
oak ridge schools
March 2016 City Council Update
Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 14th at 7:00p.m. at the Municipal Building. Significant items include: Multiple authorizations for local businesses engaged in alcohol sales Authorization to apply for and accept a grant of $250,000 up to $500,000 for synthetic turf at Blankenship. 50% required local match. Water Services Contract with DOE … Continue reading March 2016 City Council Update
February 2016 Oak Ridge City Council Update
Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 8th at 7:00p.m. at the Municipal Building. Significant items include: The City Attorney’s annual evaluation Resolution of intent to reimburse the itself up to $500,000 from the proceeds of issued bonds (debt) related to site selection and architectural/engineering fees for the construction of a new preschool … Continue reading February 2016 Oak Ridge City Council Update
Council Votes: 1/11/16 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the January 11, 2016 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet is found here and a video of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will be posted on the city website in the February 2016 Regular Meeting Agenda … Continue reading Council Votes: 1/11/16 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
Council Votes: 12/8/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the December 8, 2014 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet as well as a video of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will most likely be posted at the city website as part of the January … Continue reading Council Votes: 12/8/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
8/11/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
NOTE: On this same evening, the BOE held a meeting in which they voted 4-1 (Angi Agle voted “no”) to fully reinstate transportation for all students, effectively suspending the “Parental Responsibility Zone” aka the walk zone upon full re-implementation which is expected to take up to 2 months. The following represents an unofficial account of … Continue reading 8/11/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first ~Frederick B. Wilcox
By year’s end, we’ll have had three major elections. Tomorrow, however, may prove to be the real tipping point in our community. A number of citizens have expressed an intent to take a stand in support of their positions on two issues – the school transportation cuts and the future of Clark Park. For weeks, … Continue reading You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first ~Frederick B. Wilcox
Afterthoughts on the 2015 Budget Discussions
A lot of incomplete, and sometimes inaccurate, information has been disseminated to the public regarding the FY2015 city and school budgets. Such inconsistencies compound citizen frustrations as they begin to feel the impact of both bodies’ decisions. I would like to offer some clarification along with supporting resources which are hyperlinked below. First, let me … Continue reading Afterthoughts on the 2015 Budget Discussions
7/14/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
Ending shortly after midnight, this one might go down in the record books as the longest city council meeting ever. I should point out that it is the city manager who sets the agenda. The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the July 14, 2014 City Council … Continue reading 7/14/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
New Discoveries in the Heitman Case (post-death audit, hard drive, Bailey memo)
The Heitman family is finally receiving some local attention for their efforts. Much of the attention centers around the discovery of this post-death audit. You can read the latest here, here and here. Here are some points to ponder that have yet to be discussed: 1. Findings 1-11 suggest that though Alex had access to … Continue reading New Discoveries in the Heitman Case (post-death audit, hard drive, Bailey memo)
THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 6/2/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY/2015 BUDGET REVEAL
The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the June2, 2014 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet as well as a video of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will most likely be posted at the city website as part of the July 2014 … Continue reading THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 6/2/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY/2015 BUDGET REVEAL
2015 Oak Ridge School Budget Alternatives/Considerations
My last in-depth analysis of the school budget was in 2011. It's interesting to see what has changed and what hasn't. You can read for yourself here. Dr. Borchers and Members of the Board of Education: I have reviewed your budget proposals and would like to share my thoughts for consideration in your final deliberations. I … Continue reading 2015 Oak Ridge School Budget Alternatives/Considerations
YPOR Presentation: City of Oak Ridge Financial Overview
Why Your City's Financial Matters Matter 1. Just about anything that happens (or doesn't) in Oak Ridge has a direct tie to money, your money. 2. Local government spending directly impacts your wallet. Think not only property taxes, but sales taxes, utilities, fees, permits, fines, etc. 3. The growth or decline of our community, in very … Continue reading YPOR Presentation: City of Oak Ridge Financial Overview
March 2014 Oak Ridge Schools Safety Update
Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Oak Ridge Schools and the Oak Ridge Police Department (ORPD) last August, a number of significant safety improvements have occurred within our schools including physical security upgrades, leadership adjustments and increased police presence. As you may know, this time last year, we had only … Continue reading March 2014 Oak Ridge Schools Safety Update
March City Council Update/Additional Special Meeting
Happy Spring! Council’s schedule for the remainder of this month includes a work session and a special meeting scheduled for this Monday, March 24th at the Municipal Building. Details on the Special Meeting are provided below. The work session will follow and the agenda is located here. Results of the March 3rd regular city … Continue reading March City Council Update/Additional Special Meeting
THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 3/3/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the March 3, 2014 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet as well as a video of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will be posted at the city website as part of the April 2014 Regular … Continue reading THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 3/3/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
The Oak Ridge High School Debt Chronicles – How a $40 Million Project Will Cost Taxpayers Over $126 Million (So Far)
NOTE: The Oak Ridge City Council will hold a special non-voting meeting on February 27, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building to discuss the high school debt resolution as well as a request received by the BOE on 2/26/14 to approve an amendment to their annual budget in the amount of $1.75 million. … Continue reading The Oak Ridge High School Debt Chronicles – How a $40 Million Project Will Cost Taxpayers Over $126 Million (So Far)
Report on the 2/21/14 Joint Meeting Between Oak Ridge City Council and the BOE
For the first time in two years (and since I joined council), the Oak Ridge Board of Education (BOE) and City Council held a joint meeting. The agenda was heavy and the mayor unilaterally established a time limit of 1 ½ hours at the very beginning. The meeting room was packed and a crowd formed … Continue reading Report on the 2/21/14 Joint Meeting Between Oak Ridge City Council and the BOE
Upcoming City and School Meetings/Hot Topics
There is a tremendous amount of activity occurring in the very near future that will effect all Oak Ridgers in many ways. First, council and the BOE will hold a special called meeting this Friday at noon. The agenda is found here and was just released a few hours ago. The original purpose of this … Continue reading Upcoming City and School Meetings/Hot Topics
Traditional vs Balanced School Schedules Part 2
There’s a lot of community discussion going on in anticipation of a possible major change to our school system calendars. (Read the Assistant Superintendent’s op-ed piece on it here.) Currently, Oak Ridge Schools operate, for the most part, on two different schedules. The school administration is proposing that ALL schools go to the same schedule. … Continue reading Traditional vs Balanced School Schedules Part 2
Revisiting Oak Ridge School Calendars – Traditional v. Balanced Schedule
An item on the next BOE meeting agenda (viewable here) for this Monday night’s meeting includes a discussion about changing from a hybrid school calendar to a streamlined calendar where all of our schools operate on the same schedule. The options proposed (see 2015 2016 calendar options) include either having all schools on the same … Continue reading Revisiting Oak Ridge School Calendars – Traditional v. Balanced Schedule
Oak Ridge in the National Spotlight!
I am so excited to share with you this update on bullying & violence prevention efforts made by my friend Valerie Hughes! Valerie has worked tirelessly for the last few years to establish a Not In Our Town (NIOT) chapter here in Oak Ridge. I am happy to report that her efforts are paying off … Continue reading Oak Ridge in the National Spotlight!
THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 1/13/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
The following represents an unofficial account of the significant items discussed and/or voted upon during the January 13, 2014 City Council Regular Meeting. The complete agenda packet as well as a video (which you can now fast forward and rewind through) of the meeting can be viewed here. Draft meeting minutes will be posted at the … Continue reading THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS – 1/13/14 OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY
Data? We Don’t Need No Stinking Data.
The Oak Ridge Observer ran an editorial last week entitled “Year-Round School, Take 2.” In short, the newspaper felt they'd jumped the gun in their earlier criticism of the Oak Ridge Schools administration and staff for not being more aggressive in providing the BOE with information on a potential year round school calendar for the … Continue reading Data? We Don’t Need No Stinking Data.
