Thursday’s Planning Commission discussion of ALDI dealt with an almost completely different collection of issues…
Since (as noted in the previous post) this property is already zoned for this use, the planning commission’s focus is on (1) meeting the extensive design criteria in the zoning ordinance and (2) finding ways to ensure that the development is as compatible with the existing neighborhood as is practicable.
Water. Neighborhood residents say that this parcel of land was considered greenbelt at one time, because it is the destination for drainage from a large area of northeast Oak Ridge. That history is no longer relevant, since the land is privately owned and zoned for business. However, nearby residents say there is standing water in the area (and on nearby streets and in their yards) after a heavy rain.
There’s a stream (actually a large ditch, but it’s large) running west-to-east across the site. To develop the new store, the stream would be replaced with a closed culvert. The USGS/TVA topo map shows this as a blue-line stream, but at Thursday’s meeting Steve Byrd said that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation told him the agency does not classify it as a regulated water body. Thus, there are no legal restrictions on putting it in a culvert. However, culvert size and placement could be problematic. Neighbors say that the culvert under the nearby Sonic property (upstream from this property) is above the level of the ditch that is supposed to flow into it. I’ve seen that in other parts of town — basically, the stream has eroded down below the level of the culvert, so the culvert no longer functions the way it’s supposed to. This probably has something to do with the flooding reported by the neighbors. Byrd correctly pointed out that the ALDI development would not affect the situation upstream from Sonic, but I don’t think the city is justified in ignoring that kind of problem when it is brought to city staff’s attention.
Downstream, water from this site flows to Ernie’s Creek, which has a fairly straightforward course eastward to Melton Hill Lake. I’m not aware of any flooding issues on Ernie’s Creek that this development could worsen, but I could be wrong…
Screening between residences and store. Development plans call for a 20-ft-wide landscaped buffer (that is, a strip planted with trees) to provide a visual barrier between the backyards of homes. Neighbors asked for more evergreens than are shown in the original proposal, to ensure that the screening will be effective year-round. (Excellent point!)
Also, residents are concerned that the store and its parking lot may lead people to trespass in their yards (their yards now back up on an undeveloped wooded area, but that’s the area where ALDI wants to build the store). If I lived there, I would want a fence to ensure separation between the store lot and my backyard. The city landscaping standards call for either a vegetated buffers strip or a fence to screen between adjoining uses, not both. I think a fence is needed for physical security, in addition to the visual screening. I hope the developer will agree to provide a fence, even if city code does not require it.
Size of parking lot. Several people who have looked at the ALDI plans say that the parking lot seems too big. At 93 spaces, it’s about 36% larger than the city would require. Bob Walker, the developer’s engineer, says ALDI wants the extra space, which makes me wonder if they are expecting more customers than they have asked the city to plan for.
Sidewalk access to store. This one is mostly my issue. City ordinance says that if there is a sidewalk along a street adjacent to a new parking lot (for 100 cars or more), then pedestrian “connectivity from the entrance to the sidewalk should be provided.” This parking lot is slightly smaller than the ordinance specifies. However, this is a site abutting a residential neighborhood, and there are sidewalks on both Florida Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike. I think that the parking lot design should encourage people to walk to and from the business, by providing a sidewalk from Florida Avenue to the store. Walker was resistant to that idea, saying that ALDI sells in large quantities (like Sam’s Club), so people would not be able to shop there on foot. I’m skeptical of that. The ads for weekly specials on Aldi’s website do indicate that the store carries some large nonfood items (like Sam’s Club) and sells some items, such as frozen meat, in fairly large quantities, but the ads also show standard-sized items, such as single boxes of cereal. If this is going to be placed in a residential neighborhood, the neighbors should expect to be able to walk to it.
Loading dock placement. This is more of an issue for planning commission members than for neighbors. Because neighbors of the supermarket (currently Food City) in the Manhattan Place shopping center have complained over the years about noise from dumpsters and from delivery trucks that arrive at all hours of the night, the ALDI designers have worked to shield residents from the loading process by placing the loading dock on the side of the building facing Oak Ridge Turnpike. Some planning commissioners worry about the view motorists will see… I understand that concern, but I think the proposed placement on the “front” of the store probably will work out fine, particularly with the landscaping that the developer is promising…
Are future stores along Oak Ridge Turnpike going to be allowed front loading docks?
Seems like once you let one in, many more can have the same layout. Stores like this would better fit on Warehouse Road where this structure will fit in with similar structures. It just makes me wonder if grocery stores opened there would it make the place aesthetically look better?
Good point about the possibility of a bad precedent. The Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals generally take pains to document their reasoning (that is, the special circumstances that justify a variance) when they grant a variance to a regulation — to avoid the kind of situation you describe.
In this case, the variance (actually, it has another name, something like “landscape alternative”) would be granted to help shield residents living behind the store from truck noise and the noise of unloading trucks, and the developer would be required to install extra landscaping for visual screening of the loading dock.
There probably will be other developments proposed in the future that back up to residential neighborhoods, so this variance (whatever it’s called) could be used again, but this type of situation is unlikely to be widespread.
Anyway, I expect that business owners who want to attract customers will be careful not to confront the public with ugly loading docks. They have an incentive to make their properties look attractive.
Front loading docks, it worries me 10, 20, 30… years down the road when the next and better store comes to town. I can only see this layout as easily attained by a used furniture store when ALDI finds another location years down the road for another front loading dock. Food City is still in my mind. Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville is very similar to business owners needing loading and unloading space along the Oak Ridge Turnpike. Many people in Knoxville have complained about many businesses using the area as outside storage e.g., cardboard bales. Do you believe ALDI will force action for stricter ordinances upon all stores with busy loading docks? As a citizen, I believe it will be difficult to get ALDI to keep their end of the bargain for front loading docks.
I’m sorry to be persistent with what seems to be with everything, but they do not need it any tougher than what they have now. Has the Fire Chief commented, his crew will be the ones responding to this site for lift assists, accidents caused by traffic around the store, and any alarm also. I noticed he would encounter three points of crossing traffic to enter at the furthest and only point away from the store. Rather risky bringing in big trucks in the same entrance everyone else is using. Accidents are inevitable; we can only work to prevent them. While TDOT doesn’t see the need of a traffic light at the Home Depot and SONIC entrance, what about a light to stop traffic for Fire Trucks entering the turnpike? This type of traffic light and a service road from SONIC to ALDI could be cheaper on the city in the long run by providing a second safer entrance for everyone, including emergency personnel. It would only make sense for ALDI to provide something for those people who save lives everyday while asking to pay less than their fair share to our city. 5 handicapped parking spaces are allocated for this site; people who sometimes need their help will use them.
Landscape is easily replaceable. It would be nice that these mandated trees would be out of the way of overhead and underground utilities. Our city pays too much for a biannual event that can be done once, laughing at how some trees are just better off left to sculptors and not grounds personnel. Would any landscape be removed to accommodate the parcel next door to ALDI, like a service road or utilities easement? Without a full project plan, it is difficult to determine what will be suitable for the vacant parcel.
Looking at the area around the proposed ALDI site, I notice the Sonic exit has no acceleration lane, as will the ALDI exit on the turnpike. I just cannot figure why a deceleration lane is needed but an acceleration lane isn’t. If it were only for occupancy, wouldn’t the same crowd come out possibly as a group also? Can I get some help on this? I’m looking at coming from a complete stop to traffic speed. Will the Florida Avenue light allow extra time for people exiting ALDI onto the turnpike?
Another peculiar road is Florida Avenue. The lanes marked there now are a single northbound lane and two southbound lanes, a left only and a forward or right turn. On the site plan these lanes change to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound, both going forward with the left lane left turn and the right lane right turn. This doesn’t fit with Fairbanks Road across the turnpike. What will be happening there? This looks like Fairbanks Road travelers will be asked to pile into one lane onto the turnpike rather than the two lanes they now have.
I didn’t mean to imply the only entrance is Florida Avenue, rather it is the one I would use and so will most Oak Ridgers.
Interesting editorial in today’s Oak Ridger that points out that there is already a lot of dock visibility on the Turnpike. So perhaps this particular aspect of a project has not been enforced evenly.
Ray’s questions about traffic lights and street design are pretty technical; they deserve to be discussed with the city engineer, and resolved before City Council is asked to act upon this request. Unfortunately, the Traffic Safety Advisory Board discussion did not get into nearly that much detail…
Conflicts between customer vehicles and delivery trucks are not supposed to be an issue for this store, because the store would be open only 11 hours daily, and deliveries would occur only at night (Aldi makes 5 deliveries each week by semi-trailer, plus 3 weekly deliveries by milk truck). However, this could become an issue in the future if this particular store closed and the site was used by another business with a different way of operating. That possibility needs to be considered before the access plan is approved.
As for Cracker’s comment on loading dock visibility on the Turnpike: The city rules that call for screening of loading areas and other “nuisances” (including storage areas, utility boxes, and detention ponds) are new (adopted in 2005). Buildings built before 2005 are not covered by these rules.
However, I’m glad to be able to report that approval of a loading dock facing the front of the building should not mean that the business could legally use the area for outside storage or merchandise display. Open-air sales are not permitted in the UB-2 zone.
I can’t comment on any placement issues but I have reason to believe Aldi would be good for OR and if you folks can’t work it out please send it one county south.
I have shopped at those Aldi stores in four states and many different towns for about ten years. They are small stores and because of this many seniors like them. No five acre hike to get to the milk or bread aisle.
They are a no frills store but the prices can’t be beat and unlike many discount grocery stores the products are not old, outdated or written only in Spanish.
You can’t get everything you want at these stores but pretty much you will find everything you need and if you are on a fixed income you will love the whole concept. Ah, it is not just fixed income shoppers because you will see the parking lots filled with new SUVs.
Now be sure to let me know if and when this store opens because opening day will be a hoot and a half. Folks will complain when they can’t unlock the shopping carts. They will scream when they find out they have to pay a quarter to rent the cart and then the same folks will be amazed when they get their quarter back for returning the cart.
Folks will complain when they find out they have to pay for the shopping bags but they get over that when they bring the bags back to be used again.
Ten years ago the clerks at Aldi made about ten bucks an hour and they earn it.
They really have a niche market and I just hope you all are able to give this shopping opportunity to your residents.
Ellen- those A/C units are the biggest single thing I have ever seen sold at an Aldi store. They always have some seasonal hardlines but not big things. Just try to go and visit one of their stores in TN and I think you will be really surprised in a good way.
Just be sure to take a quarter with you
AND do NOT go the first few days of the month.
Mrs. Smith, your work is remarkable, exactly what I look for in an elected official. Yes, there is so much more to discuss with ALDI in City of Oak Ridge. I will further pin point my questions to email to our city engineer. Thank you.
CrackerNation, thanks for reminding me of the front loading docks already existing on the turnpike. I will take a look at what Mr. Esposito wrote about. I also read the article, yet I missed his message of achieving excellence. How about you, is it only about retail and sales tax when it comes to a citizen’s legacy? I believe the mechanic and small business type bay doors are for a pull in and close type of business. After reading his Atomic Bob story, Mr. Esposito missed the Warehouse Road buildings, where our previous city leaders allowed back up and drop deliveries. Why doesn’t he look at the whole picture?
Seeing all these garage doors is not what I see as favorable views when entering our city from the North or visitors leaving our riverfront and coming into the city via Oak Ridge Turnpike, what I believe is still our main street. Fire Station doors, also like a home garage door, if only businesses would put as much money and effort to maintain the excellence, we would not need the many boards and commissions to further raise the cost of living here. I pay as well as others here, and it is expected.
The ALDI store worries me when the synergy hits City of Oak Ridge, these lots on our North Entrance can be our most beautiful drive for many citizens of Anderson County, visitors, and Oak Ridgers. We need to greet them with excellence. I can think of many places that once looked like Fairbanks Plaza, but today are the most wonderful places to be at on any holiday or a quick stop to window shop. I worry also about ALDI’s reputation. Similar to what Mrs. Smith stated in an earlier blog post, Trader Joe’s is what I call an American City Experience.
Let’s get real for a moment. The store doesn’t want to fit Mrs. Smith’s concept of business meeting residence; ALDI is not spending a dime over necessary to invite walkers. This now vacant lot is only hurting our tax base, so it is my opinion to find another location that would fit their truckbed and trunk load retail expectations. It isn’t too difficult to do with today’s technology; the next step is to go there.
I see an ailing Warehouse Road. Removing truck and car loads of trash being delivered there would make the place more desirable. My suggestion is to remove the refuse center and redo the recycling center to be user friendly. The acreage is there, White Stores Inc. doesn’t own it, ALDI can be located next to industrial property, and ask Bob Monday to lease his property for a temporary waste facility. That would be fewer miles driven by fuel hungry trucks to its destination, and the entrance would be in front of the services complex building with the site having a rear gate for service trucks only onto Scarboro Road.
Ray, unfortunately we don’t often get the opportunity to tell businesses which commercial property would be best for them. As long as they follow the rules, get permits, and get variances as reasonably needed, they pick their own locations.
I’m sorry to sound as if I would like to run ALDI business it isn’t that. City of Oak Ridge has made policy to protect itself for what is inevitable, business growth. I have no intention of boycotting ALDI’s if it is approved through the planning commission, yet I see the type of business ALDI represents, another discount store. What will happen when synergy does hit and our properties that line our main road are filled with discounted items? I would like to see our policies followed so one day upper end shops or strip store developers will have these front row lots in our city. I understand it is difficult to follow policy when cash is low, or at least predicted to be low, but this city has a future to upper tier stores and we today should preserve vacant land for those shop owners. Discount stores are a dime a dozen.
What I know of ALDI is that they do not want to fit in with our communities. Their plan is pretty much unalterable. That is okay; it is their nature to be industrious with retail, but it is a city’s nature to preserve its appearance. It is now up to our planning commission to decide how much equity would ALDI provide not in a tax base, but in an aesthetic appearance. Isn’t that what the planning commission is to worry about. Leave the taxes out when applying our ordinances, and then a common sense approach can be taken to understand just what the location is really suited for now and in the future. I believe if ALDI was to have a front loading dock on our main street at Florida Avenue, Fairbanks Plaza will soon see consignment shops and second hand furniture. That would leave a fine store like Trader Joe’s or Kohl’s wanting to stay away from that area.
That is my opinion, and I would like to know what ALDI has done to communicate to the residential and business people they may affect. I already see Fairbanks Plaza raising a fit over the two forward lanes coming out of a residential street while their business street may get cut down to one lane onto the turnpike. I may not be able to tell business what and where, but our boards and commissions do.
What is your input to allowing discount stores on the main road?
Cracker, I understand your issue of raising property taxes and continuing our lifestyle. It is a point I think stores are going to try to take advantage of by skirting policy to get the best we have. I feel many developers other than GBT and CORE are looking at us, but we will not know until they are ready. They sit there until they get what they want with very little fuss. What I haven’t figured out yet is what happens when our city makes moves to discourage these big money people to take a second look at us. I’ve worked for them. I never was them and never will be, but I do know they read and read a lot.
Here is a magazine I found in my engineers office. This is everything from criminal to political with retail. If you would like to know who is reading about us, it is in here: Stores Magazine’s New Hot 100 List
What is good is that GameStop was #1 last year, and now they are here. No mess with city fuss, they just moved with what we had to offer. This is last years #1 retailer by revenue. I think that says a lot for City of Oak Ridge, and don’t worry as one day people in West Knoxville will be coming to Oak Ridge to shop as I once did, living in Farragut. It is just synergy.
My view on allowing commercial/retail anywhere in the city is that we should update our Strategic Plan to reflect current policy, we should develop a Comprehensive Plan on the order of detail as the South Illinois Corridor plan just discussed and use these documents as the foundation for Zoning and other administrative definition. I think the marketplace will sort out who goes where while our plans are the foundation for our community. If someone can do better in a certain location, over time, those adjustments will be made.
There will always be good reason for exception that may not have been anticipated and I think that a gas station with a repair bay or just an auto repair place with several bays should not be covered by a loading dock ordinance. If it is, variances should be granted until the Comprehensive Plan can be fixed.
As for ALDI communicating with the residents; they certainly do so during all open meetings. I think most residents who own lots that back up to commercial lots know that this kind of event will occur some day and they need to be realistic. In fact their lots and houses are priced accordingly.
I do not think that it is fair for a developer who is following the rules to be blind-sided just because someone who lives nearby wishes the vacant lot behind them remains vacant. If they want it vacant, they could (and probably can even now) buy it and keep it empty.
If we plan appropriately and invest in having existing structures adhere to the plan, there should be little reason why a new building would not be expected to fit into the plan as well. If it is sidewalks, buffers to adjacent residents, access roads/lanes, etc, the plan and the adherence to the plan are powerful precedents.
That plan is what I’m working off of. Now how does an ALDI get to change it? We should change it. The retail market knows this. If the Planning Commission would like to turn our turnpike into a loading docks mixed with store fronts, I cannot expect much other than discount and consignment shops to be interested in that area.
I agree with the garage door versus loading dock, those are two different appearances. The garage doors are meant for customers. Loading docks are for semi-trucks, don’t let Oak Ridge bend for another discount store, we are more than that now. I firmly believe we have hit bottom and poised to benefit from the marketplace.
But the plan is not up to date. Nor has it been implemented on existing structures in any way. Besides if you look at our empties they are essentially store fronts. This store not really different other than the loading dock is not back by the neighbors.
I remember recent comments by citizens claiming that Wal-Mart and the thrift stores were all they needed. While I don’t agree with that, I’m not sure that a reasonable new kind of grocery on the east side is a bad idea. The market will take care of itself. We shouldn’t dictate which store goes where, just where we want our stores and what features of appearance, safety, access, etc we want. Then we have to remember that the plan is a guideline. As long as a project fits, no problem. If they need an exception, they need to justify it. And everybody needs to play by the same rules.
You said the rules are not up to date, yet Mrs. Smith stated a rule from 2005. I am playing by the rules.
The comprehensive plan is not up to date. Nor is the stategic plan. Plus they have apparently made a bid for an exception based on being close to residential neighbors to the rear which seems reasonable.
What you seem to be doing is picking and choosing in an effort to be punitive against a project that you do not like. If they stick to the rules and get reasonable variances, this project should be approved.
Why should it be approved?
As it happens, the Planning Commission did approve the site plan for the project on Thursday evening. The Oak Ridger has reported the story.
The site was already appropriately zoned for the project, so the land use could not be rejected, but the Planning Commission did look at whether the site plan followed the rules.
It’s unfortunate that this was fast-tracked — approval came just 2 weeks after the city first heard of the proposal. It seems to me that the neighbors and the citizen volunteers on the Planning Commission should have had more time to digest the information, evaluate the issues, and talk about the situation.
The project still needs City Council approval of the street access.
Mrs. Smith, I have many answers to my questions. What I came across is the planning commission fired an email back to me stating Ms. Gentry was out of office and will not be back until July 3rd. I believe they are also hiding from the public.
In my opinion, they want to cover yet another tax abatement from the future Boeing owner. I believe this is not in our city’s best interest anymore to continue balancing tax abatements with new businesses not using tax abatements. The IDB has zeroed out our future, and now our appearance doesn’t matter to anyone anymore but a few people who are continually unrepresented.
Ellen, what do you mean “fast tracked”? Is that an offical procedural designation or just a bit of hyperbole?
It seems to me that if the planning commission understood the issues and there was nothing that needed clarification, they took the appropriate action.
When I say it was “fast tracked,” I mean that the entire public process happened at lightning speed.
The Traffic Safety Advisory Board members saw the traffic access plan for the first time at the meeting where they discussed it and recommended approval. They did not seem very comfortable handling the proposal in that manner, but they were concerned that they needed to act that same evening in order to be able to give a recommendation to City Council by July 16th — without having to meet a second time. That’s not the way that citizen advisory boards are supposed to operate — they are supposed to be able to study the issues in the context of their specialized area of expertise more thoroughly than City Council could, not less thoroughly.
Similarly, members of the Planning Commission had limited time to review the project before they took action. Legible plans were distributed for the first time at the work session, which was not well attended, meaning that some members did not see the materials until the commission meeting where the project was approved. No one from Aldi was available to answer questions until that final planning commission meeting. The hurried nature of the process is underlined by some confusion that emerged during that planning commission meeting. Some or all planning commission members and some neighborhood residents had been told that semi-trailers would remain at the Aldi loading dock around the clock (causing much of the concern about aesthetics), but shortly before the final vote the Aldi rep at the meeting said that was incorrect. What other uncorrected misconceptions do city staff, officials, and citizens have about this project?
Finally, you can be sure that residents of the neighborhood felt blindsided by the speed of the review.
Yes Ellen, like a lightning strike for what I believe just for the money. Isn’t that why you want the ALDI Cracker?
Ray, if I had any idea what you meant in that last post, I might be able to respond.
I know Cracker. Your lack of interest shows.
Sorry, it’s not my interest. I just don’t have a clue what you are trying to say. But maybe you can’t figure it out yourself either.
Why apologize to me, you should try to find something better for City of Oak Ridge rather than pushing poorly planned projects onto the citizens.
Just as Ellen stated, many projects and public money discussion is conducted in short time with minimal input from the public. In case you do not understand that, government acts slowly on issues of the public for a reason. Our city government should follow the same practice, but it doesn’t. It makes the commission and board involved look like they are doing this for a reason, but the only reason many people believe is this, just for the money. Since you will not answer why ALDI should be approved, is ALDI punishment?
You said further review is needed similar to Illinois Ave. business study. Why was ALDI passed so quickly by our planning commission, which still hasn’t emailed back a response to my questions? Ignoring questions is very telling of you and our planning commission. Why was the traffic board sped to a decision when I was unable to ask what will happen to Fairbanks Road? Did this board miss the lane designations? Our public as a whole is smarter than most, but you our commission, and boards refuse to involve them.
Just like your anonymity, it makes people wonder. Straighten up and put sound practice into your research. It can only help your position.
I don’t understand why you guys believe that government should act slower than appropriate. If there are no issues, needless delay is not in anyone’s interest. Just because you do not like the decision does not mean the issue was not properly considered.
Cracker, it’s not a matter of “not liking the decision.” It’s a matter of taking enough time to become well-informed about the situation, ensure that all parties have gotten answers to their questions and have had an opportunity to air their views, and in the process possibly make a good proposal better.
Ellen, that is exactly why a representative body works slowly, and when it acts quickly the decision mostly turns sour with the public.
Ellen, why does CrackerNation insist on labeling me in his words, but when I label him with my words he cries foul? CrackerNation when are your going to understand some simple rules that many people have different opinions for different reasons than you may know.
But there is no indication that the various bodies were not well-informed on the particulars of this project that concerned them. After all, they each considered and voted on the project and have referred it on.
Ray, what do you mean by “labeling me in his words?” If you mean do I think you are asking for delays when you keep saying that government should act slowly? Yes, I am labeling you as a “delay asker.” Do you have a problem with that? I even suspect that you have an ulterior motive although I have not talked about my suspicions.
Cracker, I was at all three meetings at which city boards acted on the proposal. Were you there, too? My comments about the incomplete information available to these groups (posted here on July 2) were based on my observations at those meetings, as follows:
Yes I have read your comments and have not seen any collaboration of your impressions from the officials considering the issues. After all, they considered the questions and voted approval. Without any information to the contrary, I must assume that they were happy with their action.
CrackerNation, you must be the only one with that assumption. Ellen is an elected official and has more information than you assume. Your immature nature to political science is again telling. I will assume every day you go home and cry that someone with a thinking process higher than yours is a City of Oak Ridge Councilwoman.
This plan is being pushed through without even a whimper from you as to why we need it. I have asked many questions, yet your office has refused to email me your response. I went through this before; when I get a response, your office says we have already made the decision. CrackerNation, your bored housewife exposed the myrmidon that you are.
Ray, this doesn’t make much sense either. When you say the plan is being pushed through, you must have a concept of someone pushing it through. Who was this unnamed person or persons? Whose agenda is so threatening to you? Are you just opposed to all progress?
CrackerNation:
Off the bat you are unnamed. Flying through the air are my questions. I see you are no leader, as is ALDI in providing what City of Oak Ridge should strive to be, a citizen friendly community. As long as our leaders act out ignorance to our questions and leave them unanswered, our continued problems with criminals and more students failing in the flawed system of our school board (it is their system, ask any state or federal official) will be the forefront of how the rest of the nation sees us.
All officials need to answer questions from citizens no matter how simple, complex, or retarded the question or their answer may seem. It is the basis of progress, and you are willing to deny our citizen’s questions and move ahead. I assume you are the one with an agenda, and that is taxpayer money.
I’m not sure anyone can get that, Ray. Let’s break it down. My questions that you are responding to are: Who was this unnamed person or persons (pushing through the ALDI project)? Whose agenda is so threatening to you? Are you just opposed to all progress?
You said: Off the bat you are unnamed.
Actually my name is CrackerNation.
You said: Flying through the air are my questions. I see you are no leader, as is ALDI in providing what City of Oak Ridge should strive to be, a citizen friendly community. As long as our leaders act out ignorance to our questions and leave them unanswered, our continued problems with criminals and more students failing in the flawed system of our school board (it is their system, ask any state or federal official) will be the forefront of how the rest of the nation sees us.
Are you saying the the School Board was pushing through the ALDI project?
You said: All officials need to answer questions from citizens no matter how simple, complex, or retarded the question or their answer may seem. It is the basis of progress, and you are willing to deny our citizen’s questions and move ahead. I assume you are the one with an agenda, and that is taxpayer money.
I take you are saying that even if only retarded questions remain, no progress should be made?
You see, you and I have a different perspective on this. I believe that elected officials and appointed commissioners have a duty to perform. If you raise a question and are unsatisfied with the answer but the folks doing the voting are satisfied, they do not need to bring you along. They have a job to do and if you are just being (hypothetically) obstructionist, they should not cave in to that. Once they understand and are satisfied, they should vote. There is no conspiracy involved. They are just doing their duty.
The public is informed through the public meetings that are held to consider these matters.
Did a pseudonym say something?
I am interested in knowing your thoughts of Scarboro Community and why more efforts have not been made by local politicians to secure funding for the various diseases caused by waste to this community.
I wouldn’t pay a quarter to rent a shopping cart, because, I bought my liftetime quarters at http://www.cartquarter.com I can use them always and forever and never ever have to ask for Change or digging for a quarter in my wallet again. It’s great and good to know that people have smart ideas