OAK RIDGE - Oak Ridge Town Council plans to review a draft of the town's budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Details of the proposed budget weren't available at press time.
In other business at its May 4 meeting, the council plans to conduct a public hearing to gather residents' views on a request for the rezoning of nearly 19.6 acres from agricultural (AG) to conditional zoning residential (CZ-RS-40).
Residential development is planned for the property, located at 1338 Forsyth Road in Oak Ridge's extraterritorial jurisdiction, south of N.C. 150 and east of the Forsyth County line.
The property is owned by the Duggins Family Trust. Trustees Debra Duggins and Van Duggins are seeking the rezoning.
Separately, the town's Special Events Committee raised $7,845 in donations for the Veterans Honor Green in the first three months of 2023. As the council has done in earlier quarters, it will consider matching the donations, bringing to $184,932.24 the total raised for the veterans' site at Heritage Farm Park, according to an April 19 memo from Sandra Smith, assistant town manager and clerk.
The council will also consider increasing the monthly base rate for the town's municipal water system due to rising costs for chemicals and other supplies since the adoption of the rate last year. If approved by the council, the base rate would climb to $24 plus $7.50 per 1,000 gallons of water, up from the initial rate of $21 plus $6.50 per 1,000 gallons.
In addition, the council will consider approving a budget amendment for $10,000 for start-up costs for this year's Music in the Park series.
The council will also consider authorizing town staff to hire a contractor to remove from Town Hall and destroy 24 boxes of documents with "little or no reference value," according to a March 24 memo from Smith.
Mayor Ann Schneider will read a proclamation recognizing this Thursday, May 4, as National Day of Prayer.
want to attend/watch?
The 7 p.m. meeting at Town Hall this Thursday, May 4, is open to the public. The meeting will be livestreamed on the town's YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.oakridgenc.com.
