July 14 - 20, 2017
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996
nwobserver.com
Interstate project Council debates results of salary study progresses, but work remains A study conducted by Piedmont Triad Regional Council leads to lengthy discussion about Town staff salaries by PATTI STOKES
structure and Town Manager Bruce Oakley felt it was time to compare the Town’s current structure to those of other local governments. Doing so would ensure the Town is competitive so it can both retain and recruit well-qualified employees, he told the town council in January.
OAK RIDGE – It’s been about six years since the Town of Oak Ridge has reviewed its employee salary and benefits
After receiving authorization to initiate the study, Oakley contracted with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council
in March. As part of the study, all Town employees completed a 13-page questionnaire in which they outlined their job experience, qualifications, responsibilities and time spent performing the required tasks of that position. With the exception of the Town’s two groundskeepers, employees interviewed one-on-one with the consultant to go over the questionnaires and to provide
...continued on p. 18
With the latest section of I-73 opened on July 2, contractor is asked to focus more on area of N.C. 68 and Pleasant Ridge Road intersection and 220 widening by JOE GAMM The contractor building the section of I- 73 that connects Joseph M. Bryan Boulevard, N.C. 68 and U.S. 220 made a serious push to get the latest segment of the highway open, according to N.C. Department of Transportation construction engineer Patty Eason.
FlatironConstruction/Blythe Development opened the segment from N.C. 68 to the boulevard late the evening of July 2.
...continued on p. 16
Photo by Joe Gamm
Junior ROTC students from across North Carolina attended camps at Oak Ridge Military Academy in early June. During the week-long camps, students took lessons in navigation, preventing drowning, teambuilding, marksmanship and other skills.
See article on p. 10.
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief ........................................ 2 U.S. 220 widening ............................... 3 Your Questions .................................... 4 Oak Ridge Town Council ................... 6 Youth Sync .........................................10 Ellis returns to Northern Middle ........11 Crime/Incident Report ......................14 Community Calendar .......................15 Grins & Gripes ....................................17 Classifieds ..........................................19 Index of Advertisers ......................... 23 NWO on the Go! ............................... 24