WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN OAK RIDGE?!
Here's a look at everything you need to know regarding COVID-19 in Oak Ridge, what you may have missed last month and what's in store for August.
The City of Oak Ridge Municipal Building is reopening to the public with COVID-19 precautions in place.

Public access to the Municipal Building will be restricted to the north entrance near the courtroom (labeled Court Public Safety), the Utility Business Office and Community Development permit window, and the entrance near the City Clerk’s office on the south side of the building, which is for handicap-access only. For handicap access, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (865) 425-3411.

Departmental services are still available electronically or by appointment.
The Anderson County Health Department is offering free drive-thru COVID-19 testing Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Just show up at the Anderson County Health Department at 710 N. Main Street in Clinton and bring a photo ID.
City of Oak Ridge in-person court proceedings resumed in May with precautions due to COVID-19.

As of July 10, masks or face coverings are now required in the City Courtroom and Court Clerk's Office.
During the summer of 1945, the world entered a new era, the nuclear age. On August 6, 1945, nuclear weapons were used in war for the first time. At 8:16 a.m. Japanese Time, the Enola Gay, a B-29 Bomber, dropped the uranium bomb "Little Boy" over Hiroshima.

Manhattan Project National Historical Park will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of that event at sunrise, 6:48 a.m. (ET) on August 6, 2020. The event will last one hour. The public is invited to silently ring the International Friendship Bell in A.K. Bissell Park, in Oak Ridge.
Submit an origami crane with your personal message of peace written on the crane by Aug. 30, 2020. The message of peace does not need to pertain to World War II; it can be any message of peace. These cranes will be saved in a time capsule that will be opened on the 100th anniversary of the atomic bombings. The park may also share these messages of peace to foster dialogue about the complex and fraught legacies of the Manhattan Project.

Visit the NPS website for folding directions and more information about this project and how you can participate.
Students returned to school on July 29th but many things are different this year due to COVID-19.

To find more information on reopening plans, click here.
UPDATES FROM THE UTILITIES BUSINESS OFFICE

Oak Ridge residents will be receiving their property taxes in September this year and will have until Oct. 31, 2020, to pay them.

Typically, property taxes are billed in July and due at the end of August, but that timeline has been delayed this year due to COVID-19 and the Utilities Business Office transitioning to a new billing software.

If taxes are not paid by Oct. 31, interest will begin to accrue on the account.
Delays at the Utilities Business Office

Hello there, Oak Ridge Utility Customers!

The new utility software system is up and running! For most of our customers, it has been great. Folks like the new bills, the new and improved online information, and the how their new bills reflect your most recent utility consumption.

We expected to have a few bumps in the road, and boy – were we right. We’ve had a few doozies.

Some of our friends were surprised by the changing due dates and, sadly, were unable to even speak to us about it because the phones have been tied up constantly. Some folks found the new bills confusing or didn’t understand the charges. On top of that, we’ve had a few days where we couldn’t take your credit card payments, even if you were standing there in front of us with your card in your hand! How crazy is that?

We are really sorry about this. We’ve been workin’ those phones as fast as we can answering questions and making arrangements for the folks nonstop.

Because we know that a few of our friends have had problems getting their payments in, late fees have been automatically waived and disconnects have been delayed while we tweak a few more things to get them working perfectly. We hope that this really helps.

I want you to know that our small staff is working as fast as they can, but they are swamped, and the phones are overloaded. If you want to talk to us but do not have a critical situation, please consider waiting a couple of weeks before calling in, for example, to re-establish budget billing. It would probably be better for both of us.

Don’t forget though, like I said earlier, the new system is great. In just a little bit of time, we will look back and wonder what this was all about. 
But for now, we thank you for your patience and support.

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Kelly Kilowatt
REMINDERS & OTHER NEWS
Visit 2020census.gov to complete the #2020Census and help shape the next 10 years of services for your community, such as health care, infrastructure, and schools.

There’s still time to respond! Respond online or call 844-330-2020.
National Parks and Recreation Month
Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Manager Matt Reedy accepted a proclamation designating July 2020 as National Parks and Recreation Month in Oak Ridge at the July 13 City Council Meeting.
ORPD officers honored
Oak Ridge Police Department Sergeant John Thomas (left), Officer Garrett Robbins (middle), and Officer Christina Askren (right) were recognized for their dedicated service to the community and their quick actions to remove a hateful symbol from the Scarboro Community sign last month at the July 13 Oak Ridge City Council Meeting.
One of Oak Ridge Fire Department's best retired last month after 30 years of service to the City. Dan Endsley started with the City in February 1990 and closed out his career on July 23, 2020.

Congratulations, Dan, for a great career and well-deserved retirement.

Attendees must wear a mask or face covering.

Shade tents will be provided but bring your own lawn chair. A sanitizing station will be provided. Social distancing is expected.
City of Oak Ridge| OakRidgeTN.gov