MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2019
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11
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Citywide Leaf Pick-Up Begins November 25
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The City of Oak Ridge leaf pick-up program is set to begin on Monday, November 25, and is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible.
Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather, resident participation, and the amount of leaves collected.
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The following guidelines will help make the leaf pick-up process easier for Waste Connections crews and homeowners:
- Residents should place their leaves near, but not beyond the curb. Leaves must not be placed on the sidewalk or in the street, parking spaces, or drainage ditches due to posing a pedestrian or traffic hazard and possibly clogging the storm drains. Hazards that are created by improperly placed leaves will be removed by the City at the resident's expense.
- Leaves must be free of tree branches and twigs as these can cause the leaf vacuums to clog. Because of their impact, leaf piles containing these items will not be picked up.
- All leaves must be placed outside fenced areas. If there is no other location on your property to rake leaves, please rake them to the end or side of your driveway. Leaves may also be placed in plastic bags and will be picked up at the curb during the scheduled program.
- Only leaves will be collected during this program. Citizens are reminded that the citywide household trash and brush pick-up will be scheduled in April and May.
For more information, please contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.
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REMINDER: City Holiday Schedule
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All City of Oak Ridge administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Note: Household trash and recycling *will not* be picked up on Thanksgiving.
As a result of the holiday, Thursday trash collection moves to Friday and Friday collection moves to Saturday.
We hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Mark Your Calendar: Christmas Tree Lighting
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The City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is teaming up with the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to co-sponsor the Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting. The ceremony is set for Friday, December 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park.
Everyone is invited to the outdoor pavilion stage located behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center for holiday music and refreshments. The entire program will take place outside in the park (weather permitting). Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately. In the event of rain, the first part of the program will take place in the Civic Center’s Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium).
At the conclusion of the announcements and music program, participants will proceed to the Secret City Commemorative Walk area on the east side of the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot for the countdown and tree lighting. A shuttle cart will be available for guests that need assistance to and from the parking area. Seating will be provided by the pavilion stage.
Seasonal music this year is provided by the Linden Elementary School Choir and the Oak Ridge Community Band. Refreshments will be provided by UCOR and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board.
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Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade Set for December 14
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This Year's Theme is "Christmas Around the World"
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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is busy preparing for its annual Christmas Parade to be held on Saturday, December 14. This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World” and promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights and beautiful floats. The sponsor of this year's parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.
The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Monday, December 9.
The Chamber will also need lots of Santa’s elves to serve as volunteer parade marshals to make the parade a safe, fun and successful event. To volunteer and be put on Santa’s “nice” list, contact Greta Ownby at
ownby@orcc.org or (865) 483-1321.
The parade will start at 6 p.m. and will begin at Corporate Center, on the corner of Lafayette and Laboratory Road. From there, the parade will travel down Lafayette to the Oak Ridge Turnpike. It will continue west on the Turnpike to Oak Ridge High School. The judge’s stand will be located in front of the Chamber.
Those participating in the parade will line up in the parking lot of Corporate Center, on the corner of Lafayette and Laboratory Road beginning at 4 p.m. Detailed information will be e-mailed to all who have registered an entry.
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Oak Ridge Supports Toys for Tots
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The City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Police Department are taking donations for the non-profit Toys for Tots Foundation this holiday season. All donated toys will be collected by volunteers and distributed to local families in need this December.
Residents interested in donating to the program can drop off toys in the designated bins around town until Saturday, December 7. We ask that all toy donations be new and unwrapped. Donations should also be appropriate for a child that falls into the newborn, infant/toddler, youth, or teen (up to 14) age range.
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Donation bin locations:
- Police and Main lobbies at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building, 200 S. Tulane Avenue
- Central Services Complex lobby, 100 Woodbury Lane
- T.J. Maxx, 367 S. Illinois Avenue
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Oak Ridge Police will also host a collection event on Saturday, December 7, from 2-6 p.m., near the entrance of T.J. Maxx. Monetary donations will not be accepted at the collection event but can be made directly to the Toys for Tots organization online at the link below
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Register Now for Youth Advisory Board's Annual Breakfast with Santa
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ICMA Recognizes City for Program Excellence
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The City of Oak Ridge has been recognized by ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, as a recipient of the organization’s Community Partnership Award for 2019. The award recognizes innovative programs or processes between and/or among a local government and other governmental entities, private sector businesses, individuals, or nonprofit agencies to improve the quality of life for residents or provide more efficient and effective services.
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The City of Oak Ridge was formally honored during a Celebration of Service to the Profession as part of ICMA’s Annual Conference on Wednesday, October 23. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Government Affairs and Information Services Director Amy Fitzgerald, and Administrative Services Director Bruce Applegate accepted the award in Nashville.
The award highlighted the successful intergovernmental partnership that led to the American Museum of Science and Energy opening in a new centrally located space in Main Street Oak Ridge.
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The museum, operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), faced an uncertain future in 2016. The museum’s building was oversized, energy inefficient, and was located on 18 acres of tax-exempt land in the heart of town. City staff engaged the DOE’s federal management team, as well as museum leadership, elected officials, and other stakeholders to find a solution.
As part of the collaborative project to save the museum, a private developer remodeled an existing facility and the City offered it rent-free to DOE. In turn, DOE transferred the museum property to the City at no cost. The City then turned the property over for mixed-use redevelopment that would generate tax revenues for city services
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Utilities Business Office Relocation
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IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Where you pay your utility bill has changed temporarily!
The City of Oak Ridge Electric Department moved its Utilities Business Office (UBO) to the Oak Ridge Civic Center. UBO will continue to operate out of the new location for approximately three more months.
The move is due to renovations of the UBO that are needed to increase efficiency and safety. The affected offices are normally located inside the Oak Ridge Municipal Building at 200 South Tulane Avenue. Signs are posted to direct patrons to the temporary offices.
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During this renovation period, UBO operations will be based out of the Recreation Building of the Civic Center located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Staff are utilizing the same space vacated by the Oak Ridge Senior Center when it moved into a new building.
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Customers routinely handle utility and property tax concerns at the UBO, including signing up for new accounts, terminating services and making payments. Utility and tax bills are also generated in this office. During this period, persons obtaining permits and licenses from the Community Development Department will be able to pay at the permit desk by check only. Cash will have to be received at the temporary business office location.
Customers who normally visit the business counter are encouraged to use online or mail payments during this period.
The phone number for the UBO will remain (865) 425-3400. Any questions about the temporary relocation can also be directed to the Electric Department at (865) 425-1803.
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ORPD Reports Decrease in Crime Rates
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The Oak Ridge Police Department has reported a notable drop in crime rates as a result of a data-driven approach to crime and traffic safety.
By analyzing crime stats, officers are able to see "hot spots" and trends. They can then adjust when and where they patrol and conduct traffic enforcement in order to deter crime.
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Notice of Remaining Greenway Closures During TWRA Quota Hunts
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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) scheduled scout days and quota hunts on the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
The Gallaher Bend Greenway, North Boundary Greenway, Haw Ridge Park, and the section of Melton Lake Greenway adjacent to Haw Ridge Park will be closed on the remaining scout and quota hunt days.
Anyone who does not possess a quota hunt permit is asked to stay out of these areas on the hunt dates and from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on the final scout date. Signs will be posted in the affected areas to notify the public.
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The final hunt will take place over the following weekend:
The final scout day is scheduled for:
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LED Lighting Project May Impact Traffic
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A contractor for the City of Oak Ridge Electric Department is currently working to install new LED lights and poles along Melton Lake Drive from Rivers Run Boulevard to Edgemoor Road (as weather permits).
Please be advised that this project could affect traffic on Melton Lake Drive during the day. Crews may also need to close sections of Melton Lake Greenway while working to install the lights. Pedestrians will still be able to go around the closures to get to their vehicles.
If you see crews working in the area, please use caution. The Electric Department estimates that this project will be complete in mid-December.
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Songs & Shelters Tour to Visit Oak Ridge
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The Songs & Shelters Tour is coming to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on December 7. On a mission to shine a spotlight on pet adoption and animal shelters, the tour promotes animal shelters and their wish-list items by featuring live music by Nashville recording artist
Ben Cesare.
Encouraging the “adopt, don’t shop” movement, the Songs & Shelters tour strives to spread the unique messages of each shelter with the public - showcasing the four-legged friends in their shelter as well as needs in terms of monetary and wish list item donations, pet safety, and more. The Oak Ridge event is scheduled for 1pm. The animal shelter is located at 395 Belgrade Road.
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Now Hiring: Find a Job with the City
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The City of Oak Ridge is currently accepting applications for the following positions:
- Library Page
- Electric Line Technician
- Treatment Plant Operator
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Winter Volleyball Registration Underway
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Registration for the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department’s co-ed Volleyball leagues is now underway.
Games are scheduled to begin on January 7 and will be played on Tuesday evenings. Interested teams may obtain registration information at the front desk of the Oak Ridge Civic Center or online (by clicking the button below). Registration is set to close on December 14.
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Join Us on November 20 for Wise Water Wednesday at Oak Ridge Public Library
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Authors' Roundtable at Public Library
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YAB Holiday Giveback Program
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On November 6, the City of Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board (YAB) purchased an estimated $1,600 worth of toys and donated them to the Christmas Store. The Christmas Store is co-sponsored by the Scarboro Community Center and Oak Valley Baptist Church.
The YAB, made up of 16 Oak Ridge High School students, purchased new items at a local retailer with funds raised at other board events. Items purchased include toys and sports equipment for all ages of children. The items will soon be distributed to families in Oak Ridge in time for Christmas.
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ORFD's Fire Prevention Education
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The Oak Ridge Fire Department recently wrapped up citywide safety education efforts as part of Fire Prevention Month. These students from Linden Elementary School got to practice Stop, Drop, and Roll techniques along with escape planning.
Great job to all the students!
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