Summary

• A survey regarding the outdoor pool is ongoing and will close on August 19th.
• Plans include a Zoom meeting with a contractor to discuss concept plans for presentation in September.
• Noted increased attendance for lap swimming during specified hours.

Full Text

The August 10, 2023 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board was convened at 7:00 pm in the Oak Ridge Recreation Center Social Room with Chairman Jake Greear presiding.

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jake Greear, Doug Bataille, Terri Daugherty, Ann Miller, Kelly Mccampbell, Chris Melhorn

Absent:

Dan Robbins, Alissa Jones, Michele Thornton

Also Present: Jon Hetrick, Recreation & Parks Director, staff liaison

Also Absent: Seth Rodgers, Recreation & Parks, Special Projects, staff liaison

3. Approval of August 10th Agenda

Moved item #9 up to item #5.

Agenda approved.

4. Approval of July 2023 Meeting Minutes

Approved as drafted (unanimous).

5. Appearance of Citizen (Non-agenda Items)

Doug C.: Regarding creek behind Tate’s Auto salvage. Requesting the advisory board prepare a letter to city council. Old tires and such, polluting the creek. Each year when they clean the creek, there are tires and trash in the creek. Reported to health and waters. East fork, along the back side of Tate’s. Jon recommends contacting city manager instead of city council. Jake agrees that best first option would be to call the codes department. Then if we don’t see action, then contacting city manager. Jake will contact codes department.

6. Officer reports: none.

7. Committee Reports / Board Work Plan:

– Oak Ridge Pool

– Outdoor pool- survey still open. Survey closes Aug. 19th most likely. Comment section will continue to be open on the website. Zoom meeting tomorrow with contractor. Plan is to have concept plans to present in Sept. Vonda coming to present to parks and rec advisory board in Sept. Aug. 13th is the last day for public swim. The 19th is the puppy pool party. Terri said more people coming for lap swimming during 2 hour blocks.

– CIPs Review

– CIP was incorporated into the city budget that was approved in June. About 2 million for regular projects, plus 5 million for rails to trails, and conference center 5.6 million.

– North Boundary Greenway

– Still in the works. According to Doug B., one is substantially complete, other one is still being worked on.

– Jon – trail behind houses along Whipperwill, planning to do removal, mechanical clearing. Ann- this is a section that is back behind people’s yards. Since the fence has been removed, a lot of debris has built up, that could be fire hazards. And people had put up sheds and things on DOE property. Parks dept. concern is managing the greenway. Once Jon gets more info/confirmation, will send to interested groups.

– Greenway System

– We put in a letter of interest for a grant program to fund a master plan, but we didn’t’ get selected to apply for the grant, it is very competitive.

– Once we get a new city manager, that will be a priority to impress upon them the importance of getting funding in place.

– Parks & Rec Stewardship, Maintenance and Trail development

– Ann – at the dog park, the grading is not good, so there are big mud holes, and debris and other things wash into the mud holes. Jon said they have been talking about that at planning meetings. The dog park gets a fair amount of use. And being down by the creek and in the shade, grass doesn’t grow well there. Last year, some folks filled it with gravel. The mud pit now is too big for patrons to handle on their own. Parks dept. may end up fencing it off until a long term solution can be determined.

– Secondary & Long-Term Objectives

– Facilitating community events.

– Dog. day at pool Aug 19

– Halloween party, likely out in the park. Construction on the building will have a major impact on that. Likely will be in the flat part of the park near the parking lot.

– Tree lighting ceremony first Friday in December.

– Rails to trails

– Community awards – start thinking about nominating people. To recognize two community members for their efforts in the parks and rec world.

– Still waiting to get a cancelled check from the bank indicating engineering firm has cashed the check City gave them. Then we can get reimbursement from TDOT. Once we get that, then will get notice to proceed, then start property acquisition process. TDOT has approved the design plans. Have asked for funding to be released to purchase property for two other sections for the next phase of the project. There’s a new project manager now. Need to get with them to update the timeline. 40-month timeline seems excessive. Once that’s done, then need to get contract in place for construction.

– Advisory support for conference center design

– Progress is beginning to be made. Will affect the bands playing Saturday, with more limited space. Asbestos abatement was completed last week (earlier than estimated). Inspection supposed to take place today, once that’s done, and they have clearance, then will move forward with clearing out inside, and replacing the roof. Once the roof is gone, they will take out the back wall to expand. Construction period estimated to be about 400 days.

– Support Melton Lake bridge preliminary design

– Students completed their project back in May. Jon will contact citizens that were interested in using those projects.

– Support continued development of the peace bell pavilion

– Identified source of leak and addressed that. Still need to get out request for proposals for someone to clean it up/maintain. Seth is looking for a small shed to put back there.

– Trying to find a new striker to replace the one inside the bell.

– Plan to plant some irises near the bell.

– Explore opportunities for the continued development of disc golf

– Making some progress. Parks crew helping out with larger trees and poison ivy. Collaborating together to push some redevelopment. This is still progressing.

– Support blueways initiatives

– Next meeting Aug. 29th from 1- pm in the civic center social room. Chuck Estes organizing meetings.

8. Unfinished business:

– Jake has sent out a letter recommending renaming of North Ridge Trail to honor Liane & Bill Russell per March meeting motion. Jake drafted and sent to Jon. Jon will review and send to city manager.

– From last month: Clinch Valley Trail Alliance. 8 acres used for storing equipment and using for events. Jon assisted with transfer of that from the county to the city. Hopefully once that is acquired, parks dept. can make some improvements to the trailhead. Property value on the tax roll is 148,000, it’s two parcels. There’s some issues that could take the value down, no sewer system, power lines that go through the property. City Council authorized city manager to offer up to $150,000.

– Update on that: City manager has submitted offers to the Anderson Co. Board of Education’s atty. Still waiting on a response to those offers.

9. New Business:

– Terri- inquiry re more lap swim time, longer slots. Jon – just need more lifeguards to do that, it’s purely a staffing issue that limits the hours/availability.

– Ann – inquiry re bike trail/path maps. Jon advised that the city has these.

10. Announcements

– Doug B. – Clinch Valley Trail Alliance. Working on phase 2, 30-40k has been raised by CVTA. Waiting on trail contractor, hopefully that starts this fall. To develop or improve a perimeter trail around the lake.

– Director’s report.

– Jon- update re city manager. Whatever priorities a new city manager brings, could vastly change the city’s priorities. Had 54 applicants. Last month did zoom interviews with 6. Next week City Council will be interviewing 2 candidates in person. Wed. night, public forum at the high school, probably 6:30. Public should be able to ask questions. They special meeting of City Council next Friday to select new city manager.

– Have a new parks technician starting this week, then the next week two others starting. One has a horticulture background. Once that happens, will be fully staffed in parks.

Future agenda items:

– Vonda will do a presentation for the Sept. Advisory board meeting.

– Board members should be thinking about community members to select for community awards in Dec. Would like to have those names in October.

Next meeting: Sept. 14, 2023.