WDL-08-2019-1

BY ANDREWCHRISTMAN, VANESSA HOLT AND BEN THOMPSON

City Council approves two new Robinson Road private schools OAK RIDGE NORTH Two nonprot private schools will begin operating in Oak Ridge North’s Plaza District this year aer City Council approved special-use permits, or SUPs, for the academies at its June regular meeting. Both All Nations Community School and Journey School for the Uniquely Gied and Talented were granted permits to move into space in Sojourn Baptist Church, located at Robinson Road, Oak Ridge North. Both schools will occupy space formerly used by the church’s Sojourn Academy for a two-year term beginning this summer. The council’s approval came following several public comments in support of the school and deliberation over the permit requests. While no council members opposed bringing the schools to the city in concept, several raised questions related to the schools’ eects on local trac and the necessary change to the city’s plans for the Plaza District, which encompasses several properties west of Hanna Road on Robinson and was designed to augment sales tax collection. Following deliberation over the merits of granting the permits and establishing conditions for operation of the new schools, both SUPs were approved by - votes despite some of the council’s initial reservations. Council Member Frances Planchard voted against the measure. The permits were issued July through identical ordinances that each passed by - votes. “I see absolutely no reason at this point not to grant both of these SUPs,” Mayor Paul Bond said before the nal discussion and votes. The schools will

Preliminary Shenandoah budget includes new jobs, sales tax boost SHENANDOAH Shenandoah’s dra - budget features a spending increase over the previous scal year headed by new personnel hirings year’s nal tax information. Some of the largest spending increases could come from adding four new sta members with salaries budgeted at around , each. The new EXPECTED INCREASES

and police requests, oset by growing revenues including a nearly % jump in sales tax yield. A preliminary budget discussed at a July City Council meeting increased spending by .% from . million to . million. Revenue is budgeted to grow .% from . million to . million, aided by the estimated , jump in sales tax revenue. Finance Director Lisa Wasner noted some budget estimates could change based on this

The preliminary budget for the city of Shenandoah includes increases to both spending and revenue.

positions include a building and re inspector, utilities and maintenance supervisor, and two patrol ocers. During the budget review, council members questioned additions in the police department given its request to both hire two new ocers and increase several categories of budgeted overtime pay as part of a , annual budget increase. Shenandoah planned to hold its budget workshop Aug. -.

SPENDING:

2018-19: $8.82M

2019-20 (projected): $9.28M

REVENUE:

2018-19: $9.13M

2019-20 (projected): $9.73M

SOURCE:CITYOFSHENANDOAH/ COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

Entergy addresses 49% increase in Shenandoah outages in 2019 SHENANDOAH A representative from Entergy appeared before incidents and damage, such dig- ging to install G phone networks. Among the bigger issues, deterrents and clearing vegetation from around power lines. “We’re also in the process of building a new substation

Shenandoah City Council on July to address an increasing number of power outages across the city. Entergy Engineering Supervisor Troy DeBeaumont said a variety of factors have increased the number of interruptions to Shenandoah and The Woodlands by % from last year, including vegetation, lightning strikes, animal-related

according to DeBeaumont, was a large substation transformer in Oak Ridge North failing several weeks earlier. A mobile substation was brought in and has been in use until a new transformer is received. DeBeaumont said Entergy is making eorts to address the issues, such as putting in animal

transformer o of [Hwy. ] and I- that will feed into this area,” DeBeaumont said. “That will reduce the exposure any customer may see.” Mayor Ritch Wheeler said he would like to see updated underground grid information for the area.

27420 Robinson Road, Oak Ridge North

be required to reap- ply for new SUPs at least days before the permits expire in to leave time for city planning or for the schools to vacate Sojourn if they are denied new permits.

R D .

POWER PROBLEMS Entergy said several factors have contributed to increased power outages in Shenandoah and The Woodlands.

FACTORS INCLUDE:

Vegetation growth

Damage including Oak Ridge North substation transformer

Lightning strikes Animal-related incidents

49% INCREASE in outages from 2018-19

SOURCE:ENTERGY/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

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The Woodlands edition • August 2019