The Oak Ridger
City of Oak Ridge facilities are returning to normal operations as the number of positive COVID-19 cases goes down. A review of all city departments and services has been conducted. The following is a summary of various services provided by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson in a city news release.
Departmental services are continuing. City officials strongly urge citizens to conduct their business electronically, over the phone, and by mail whenever possible. If you need to reach a department, call the number listed below for each department. Call the City Manager’s Office or department offices on the city’s website for further information.
Rotary Club of OR celebrates vaccine efforts
Elaine Bunick/Special to The Oak Ridger
James Munsey is proud that over 4,900 doses of Moderna vaccine have been given at Munsey’s Pharmacy, a small family-owned pharmacy in Oak Ridge. This number is about 10.7% of the 45,898 vaccines given in Anderson County as of April 22.
To try to accommodate the needs of community residents, two Drive-in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics were conducted at Munsey’s Pharmacy on Feb. 27 and March 27 in Oak Ridge. Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge and Knights from the St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus managed the traffic, parking and registration of vaccine recipients.
ORPD force policies are online; no changes since August
Oakridger
The city of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Police Department has not changed its use of force policies this year in response to national controversies pertaining to the use of police force, but it has posted a list of its policies online.
The ORPD s use of force policy is available online as one of many policies available online. It can be found at http://www.oakridgetn.gov/Policepolicies/police-policy.php. The city has not updated this policy since Aug. 19, 2020, which was after the national controversy and protests surrounding Minneapolis Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin s killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. After that incident, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson encouraged the ORPD to make updates to some of its policies. Also, some Oak Ridge City Council members encouraged the police department to start posting its policies to its website, which it has since done.
Oak Ridge Today
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Pictured above in front row are, left to right, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Housing Authority Commissioner Tom Beehan, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, state Rep. John Ragan, ORHA Executive Director Maria Catron, and Tennessee Housing Development Agency Industry and Government Affairs Liaison Katie Moore; and back row, left to right, ORHA Commissioner Jim Palmer, ORHA Board Chair Jean Lantrip, and ORHA Board Secretary Sharon Crane. (Photo courtesy THDA)
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency has awarded a $106,000 HOME Program grant to the Oak Ridge Housing Authority that will be used to help low-income families purchase a new home.
Council chooses architect for conference center
Oakridger
The Oak Ridge City Council recently and unanimously approved an agreement with an architectural firm of up to $185,000 to design and renovate a conference center in the space next to the American Museum of Science and Energy.
A memo from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson stated the funding will come from the state of Tennessee rather than city tax funds, and Council will need to vote on any expenses above $185,000.
The memo states the conference center is planned for the 13,500 square feet pf currently empty space in between the American Museum of Science and Energy and JCPenney. It would also be close to TownePlace Suites by Mariott Knoxville Oak Ridge.