Council has a long list of priorities for the new Oak Ridge city manager

Calling it "a new era for city government," Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch began the first City Council work session under the leadership of Randy Hemann.

City Clerk Beth Hickman officially swore in Hemann as the new city manager Nov. 9 near the start of the work session in the Municipal Building Courtroom. The city manager began work Nov. 1 after being selected for the position by council in mid-August. The courtroom audience at the Thursday meeting was filled with city firefighters, police officers and local government officials from the city and nearby counties.

"I am honored and humbled to be here to serve Oak Ridge," Hemann said to the audience, as he pledged to work the "best I can to support our citizens."

Council member Derrick Hammond gave the work session's opening prayer, "welcoming him (Hemann) to the family that is Oak Ridge, Tennessee."

Emphasis on future plans, projects

The short meeting allowed council members to publicly tell Hemann their priorities for him as he begins his job with the city. Most of the seven council members indicated they'd already met with him individually and privately during the nine days he'd been on the job and told him of their priorities. Longtime council member Ellen Smith said she gave him a "lifetime" of projects and priorities for him to work on.

"Let's take care of the men and women who take care of us," council member Chuck Hope told Hemann when speaking of his priorities.

Making sure the city government's employees were retained and compensated well appeared to be the top priority of council, as it was individually mentioned by most of the council members. Hope, Hammond and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dodson are members of the compensation committee that has led moves to provide better pay and benefits to the city's workers over the past few years.

Member Charlie Hensley asked Hemann to meet soon with the Oak Ridge Planning Commission, of which he's a member, as it works on a comprehensive plan.

Hemann should give a "fresh look" at city government, specifically reviewing processes with an eye to sensibility and customer service, member Sean Gleason said.

Hammond listed his priorities for Hemann as affordable housing; work toward equity, diversity and inclusion; community engagement with the many groups that aim for the betterment of Oak Ridge; and partnerships. He mentioned the partnership with the city and the "Scarboro 85" group working to fund, create and install a monument to the 85 Black students and others who integrated Oak Ridge Schools.

Hammond also said Hemann already had attended a community meeting on a future affordable housing project involving the city and Oak Ridge Housing Authority.

Gooch said the "long overdue" paving in the city by the Tennessee Department of Transportation is underway, and the city needs a long-term plan for paving and repairing its city-owned streets. He also mentioned expanding the infrastructure in the city with new businesses and new residents coming into the city.

Continuing to grow downtown was a priority named by Dodson. "I know you have experience in that area," he told Hemann.

Hemann, born in West Virginia, has spent much of his career in North Carolina. A large portion of his career has been focused on development in the areas where he's worked: Salisbury, Kinston and Benton, North Carolina. He has said economic and downtown development were big parts of his role as town manager in Mooresville, assistant city manager in High Point, and city manager in Oxford, his three most recent positions, all in North Carolina.

"I hope you start a new era with the U.S. Department of Energy," Smith said, referring to the city's relationship with the federal agency.

Hope listed continuing a good relationship with the mayors of Anderson, Roane and Knox counties as a priority.

Council also commended Deputy City Manager Jack Suggs for his work as interim city manager since the May retirement of Mark Watson. Hemann also saluted Suggs' work and started a round of applause for the longtime city government employee.

The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.

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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Council lists priorities after new Oak Ridge city manager sworn in