JUNE 2020 | Vol. 6, Issue 6
What's Happening in  Oak Ridge!
Here's a look at what's been happening in Oak Ridge and what's ahead!
The City of Oak Ridge will reopen its outdoor pool for the season beginning June 15 with some COVID-sensitive measures.

The main pool will be open and the little pool for children will remain closed for the summer. Since the pool water is being treated with chlorine, a disinfectant that wipes out the virus, the main focus will be following social distancing and repeatedly sanitizing commonly used areas.

Read more for a list of changes in place to help ensure the health and safety of all visitors .
The annual City of Oak Ridge July 4th Fireworks Celebration at Alvin K. Bissell Park has been canceled due to several challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The challenges this year are that the traditional Community Band has canceled its performance, surrounding areas have also canceled similar events, and those attending the event will not be able to successfully follow the social distancing requirements set by the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is also a risk for larger movement of crowds and traffic because of the various cancellations nearby.
Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson presented the budget for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 at Monday’s City Council meeting. It will be heard two more times before Council votes on it.


The next two budget hearings are set for Monday, June 15, and Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m.
Crews began demolishing the former American Museum of Science and Energy building on Tulane Avenue in late May.

Apartments called Main Street Lofts are set to take the building's place. Construction could take as long as 18 months to complete .

The new AMSE building is now located on East Main Street.
The citywide household trash pick-up program began Monday. Household rubbish, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. City collection efforts will follow the accompanying schedule as closely as possible.

The landfill no longer accepts any items that had or currently have compressors . This includes: air conditioners, de-humidifiers, water coolers and refrigerators.

After exploring every option to move forward with a 2020 festival, The Secret City Festival announced that due to COVID-19, it cannot provide the level of excellence this year that it wishes to and is canceling this year's event.

Event organizers shared the news on social media and said: "We hope to support other gatherings happening and hope you will join us in the excitement for 2021! Stay safe, stay positive and contact us for ways you can be involved for next year!"
On Friday, June 5, members of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge and the Sew Good Mask Project delivered 13 PPE kits to all Oak Ridge Schools, Pre-School, Secret City Academy, Senior Center, Civic Center, the Boys & Girls Club and Girls Inc.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge!!
The City of Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office will transition to new software in July and that means utility bills will be changing. Kelly Kilowatt is here to help!

Your utility bills will have a new look so Oak Ridge Utility customers should keep an eye out for a bill in an envelope in their mailbox rather than a postcard, which is how it previously arrived.

Customers can continue to pay their bill online with a credit card. However, the format will look different. They can also submit a new service ticket in the online customer self-service portal.

If a customer prefers to pay over the phone, that option will now be available 24/7. Automatic payments are still available.
Oak Ridge was created without a central, mixed-use downtown during the Manhattan Project. That is all about to change. Plans are being developed to turn Wilson Street, near Main Street, into a buzzing, active Downtown area!

So, to help show off that area, the City of Oak Ridge invited everyone out to watch some talented artists from our area Paint the Town with Chalk.

People could vote on their favorite chalk drawing and the winners were presented with awards during a ceremony outside TNBank on June 4.
Oak Ridgers came together on Tuesday, June 2, for a virtual community conversation on race relations in America and later, a peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protest. The group marched from Oak Ridge High School's Wildcat Arena, across the street, to the International Friendship Bell. Oak Ridge High School alum Trevor King organized the event.

He worked with the Oak Ridge Police Department and his pastor and Councilman Derrick Hammond to make sure the event was safe for everyone. For the first hour, the group gathered at the high school to make signs, T-shirts, and have conversations.

At the bell -- dozens of speakers, including Mayor Warren Gooch, shared their experiences. Councilman Hammond wrapped up the peaceful protest by asking people if they are willing to make the sacrifice to create change. All together, the crowd responded: "YES".
REMINDERS
Part of the parking lot at the Oak Ridge Civic Center will be closed on Saturday, June 20, for the 5 County Alzheimer's Tennessee WALK to Make Alzheimer’s a Memory.

From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., the west parking lot (Senior Center side) at the Oak Ridge Civic Center will be closed. Park users who are not participating in the event are asked to use the East parking lot (Library side) of the Civic Center during this time.

The event will be different this year due to COVID-19. Read more at the link below for more information.
Respond to the 2020 Census today to help make sure your community is accurately
funded and represented for the next 10 years.

Learn more and complete your form at
Tax Day has been extended until July 15.

The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible . Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days.