COVID-19: Update on changes in city gov’t
Special to The Oak Ridger
The public health situation is rapidly changing; here are the latest updates affecting city facilities from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.
Due to the significant increase in COVID cases, city officials strongly urge citizens to conduct their business over the phone and by mail whenever possible.
The city of Oak Ridge is supporting the “Tennessee Pledge” efforts by the state government. You may refer to State of Tennessee websites for updates and advice on precautions to be taken by particular businesses.
City facilities will continue to be operated as explained below as precautions and security matters are considered for the safety of employees and “social distancing” for city customers. Visitors may receive a temperature scan and inquiry about current health. Call the city manager’s office or department offices on the city’s website for further information.
Oak Ridge Today
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David Mason
David Lane Mason, a member of the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board and community volunteer, died of COVID-19 complications on Monday. He was 79.
Mason was a former deputy director of environmental management and enrichment facilities at the former K-25 site, and he retired from the United States Enrichment Corporation in 2005 as the director of Centrifuge Engineering and Manufacturing Project, according to his obituary.
As a founding member of the Oak Ridge Rowing Association, Mason helped develop and build the rowing course at Melton Hill Lake, his obituary said. As a member of the Sunset Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, he helped establish the annual Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair for elementary and middle school students, the obituary said.
Oakridger
Oak Ridge City Council members and staff expressed concern recently about homelessness in Oak Ridge and problems with finding affordable housing.
“It’s going to take all of us as a community to address this particular situation,” City Council member Derrick Hammond said.
The discussion of homelessness came up prior to the vote on the Community Development Block Grant plan on Dec. 14. City Community Development Director Wayne Blasius said the measure Council approved includes the city’s plans for using the CDBG, including some CARES Act funding this year and over the next three years.
As explained in the meeting agenda, $236,872 is the amount the city will get from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development while an additional $232,681 will be from CARES Act funding to prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19. Together they total of $469,553 for activities in the proposed Consolidated Plan.
City answers utility billing questions
Oakridger
Citizen complaints about new city utility billing dates have led to discussion by Oak Ridge City Council, but no changes have been made.
Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs recently gave what he said were the reasons behind the change in billing dates and the city’s inflexibility regarding the dates at a work session.
Earlier he said customers were “confused or in some cases angry because of the billing changes.”
The City Council heard from one such citizen during one of its recent meetings.
Oak Ridge resident Raymond Mitchell told Council during the time for citizen comments that he is on a fixed income and his check comes in one day after the bill is due.
City makes changes because of virus cases
Oakridger
In light of increases in the number of people infected with COVID-19, city of Oak Ridge officials issued updates Thursday on the status of city facilities.
“Due to the significant increase in COVID cases, city officials strongly urge citizens to conduct their business over the phone and by mail whenever possible,” stated a news release from City Manager Mark Watson. Information below is from that news release.
The city of Oak Ridge is supporting the “Tennessee Pledge” efforts by the state government. Refer to State of Tennessee websites for updates and advice on precautions to be taken by particular businesses.