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Votes at a glance: Oak Ridge council approves FY2025 budget, compensation changes, contracts, appointments and procurement
Summary
The council approved the FY2025 budget on final reading, adopted a 3% across-the-board pay increase in the updated compensation plan, and approved multiple resolutions including contracts for roofing, lead service-line inventory support, a Ford F-450 purchase, an audit contract, and authorization to pursue property for Fire Station 2.
Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions, including the FY2025 budget and several procurement and personnel items.
Key votes and outcomes
- FY2025 budget and tax ordinance (final reading): Adopted on unanimous voice vote. (See timeline for public-hearing note.)
- Updated compensation plan (effective 07/07/2024): Approved, implementing a 3% cost-of-living increase across pay scales, incorporating new positions and corrected job titles; a corrected attachment was substituted before final approval.
- Sanitary sewer lateral hard-connection contract: Approved a resolution awarding a contract to M-K-O Contractor LLC (Knoxville) for up to $200,000 for prioritized lateral hard connections; council members discussed that original bids for a larger scope (85 laterals) came in near $488,000 and staff said the scope was reduced and additional contracts may be needed.
- Roof replacements: Awarded to Rackley Roofing Company for the Civic Center (not to exceed $502,858.54) and Woodland Elementary School (not to exceed $1,306,088.54); facility manager said both roofs exceeded their service life.
- Lead service-line inventory support: Approved amendment to the continuing-services agreement with OHM to increase compensation to an amount not to exceed $250,000; staff said the work is grant-funded and must be completed by October.
- Vehicle procurement: Authorized purchase of a Ford F-450 (not to exceed $83,977) for Public Works using state contract pricing.
- Audit services: Contract awarded to Pew CPAs (Knoxville) to audit the city's FY2024 accounts for $91,500 with up to four renewal options after a limited RFP response.
- Property acquisition for Fire Station 2: Authorized the city manager to submit an offer up to $200,000 for approximately 2 acres to pursue due diligence for a potential new station.
- Appointments: Alan Libby confirmed to the Oak Ridge Utility District Board of Commissioners; Vice Mayor Dodson reappointed as council representative to the youth advisory board screening panel.
Votes were taken by voice for most items and recorded as unanimous (6 ayes, no nays) where noted. Council discussed several items in detail (notably the sewer lateral scope and the DOE land-transfer comments) before voting. Several items were informational or approvals of staff-submitted documents and did not require further action beyond the vote.
