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From YouTube: Athens City Council - September 18, 2023
Description
Athens City Council - September 18, 2023
B
And
welcome
to
Athens
city
council,
it's
Monday
September
18th
at
7
00
pm,
and
we
are
in
regular
session
tonight
before
we
begin.
I
would
like
to
make
a
land
acknowledgment
that
we're
on
land
occupied
for
Millennia
by
the
Adena
Hopewell
Ford
agent
and
Shawnee
people
before
we
start
the
business
session,
we're
going
to
have
a
public
hearing,
and
this
is
part
of
the
process
when
we
amend
our
code,
that
we
have
a
public
hearing
to
receive
comments
from
anybody
about
concerns
about
the
particular
zoning
that
we're
recommending
to
be
changed
in
this
case.
B
What
we're
doing
is
working
towards
amending
the
sign
regulations
to
include
feather
flags
as
temporary
Advertising
Signs,
and
you
may
have
noticed
around
town
that
they're
everywhere
as
they
are
in
many
communities,
and
what
we
have
suggested
is
to
adding
to
the
code
that
the
maximum
number
of
temporary
signs
shall
not
exceed
two
per
property
for
multiple
businesses
operating
on
one
property.
The
maximum
number
of
temporary
signs
shall
be
won
per
business.
B
B
Not
we'll
consider
the
public
hearing
closed
at
703
pm.
Thank
you
very
much,
I'm
glad
to
have
this
opportunity
in
case
there
are
people
who
are
concerned
about
it.
Yeah
our
next
item
of
business
is
establishing
a
quorum
and
we
do
have
all
members
of
council
present
tonight
and
the
next
item
is
disposition
of
the
minutes,
and
this
is
for
the
regular
session
held
on
September
5th
and
if
I
could
have
a
motion
for
approval
of
these
minutes.
So.
B
You
we
now
have
communications,
I
have
two
items.
One
is
that
council
members
have
received
a
an
application
for
from.
Excuse
me,
the
Ohio
Division
of
liquor
control,
and
this
is
for
a
business
that
is
changing
its
name
from
Athens
pyramid
LLC
and
that's
located
at
5,
Mill
Street
and
the
new
name
will
be
Bob,
Athens
llc
at
five
Mill
Street
and
we're
not
familiar
with
who
Bob
is.
But
someone
asked,
but
we're
not,
and
so
this
is
before
us
and
if
there
would
be
any
questions
about
it.
B
So
it
looks
to
be
a
name
change,
and
but
if
there
would
be
any
responses,
the
division
of
liquor
control
would
have
to
receive
them
from
city
council
by
October
10th.
Thank
you.
The
other
communication
that
we
received
was
a
phone
call
that
came
into
the
city
council
office
on
Friday,
and
this
was
from
the
forest
supervisor.
The
weighing
Force
supervisor,
Lee,
Stewart
and
I.
B
Believe
the
mayor
also
received
a
call
too
basically
acknowledging
the
fact
that
city
council
several
weeks
ago
sent
a
letter
in
which
they
also
suggested
our
council
members,
as
a
body
suggested
changing
the
name
of
the
Wayne
National
to
the
to
the
Buckeye.
Was
it
the
Buckeye
Buckeye
National
Buckeye
National
Forest
the
they
haven't
reached
a
decision
yet
that
he
did
the
comment
that
they
had
had
over
1200
responses
and
they
consulted
with
40
tribes
and
12
tribes.
Indian
tribes
were
actively
participated
in
the
process
and
the
secretary's
decision
will
be
made.
B
E
The
second
was
to
encouragement
to
resume
Dialogue
on
affirming
commitments
to
other
equity
and
inclusion
topics
and
specifically
asking
what
might
the
next
steps
be
to
pledging
the
council
and
administration
support
to
other
diverse
groups,
following
up,
in
particular
on
council's
discussion
of
the
importance
of
socioeconomic
diversity
in
our
region?
Finally,
an
invitation
for
City
officials
to
resume
attendance
at
racial
Equity
meetings,
which
was
at
its
height
in
2020,
but
has
declined
since
so
I
will
be
sending
along
invitations
and
opportunities.
E
So
this
event
will
be
on
October
26th
from
6
pm
to
8pm
at
the
Athens
Middle
School
cafeteria,
and
is
being
organized
by
the
racial
Equity
Coalition
of
Athens
County,
in
collaboration
with
Athens
City
Schools,
the
Ohio
University,
division
of
diversity
and
inclusion,
the
city
of
Athens,
the
Athens
community
relations
commission
and
the
Athens
County
foundation.
So
I
will
be
following
up
with
more
information
about
that
as
well.
Thank.
F
This
today,
the
Athens
rethink
Plastics
group
was
at
the
alumni
gate
and
they
will
be
at
Baker
Center
on
Thursday,
along
with
the
Athens
weather,
Water
Conservation
District,
climate
and
sustainability
ambassadors
from
Ohio
University
will
be
marking
campus
storage
storm
drains
as
well
as
City
storm
drains
this
week,
and
you
can
join
us
on
Wednesday
at
the
alumni
gate
to
see
if
you
can
tell
the
difference
between
Athens
City,
tap
water
and
bottled
spring
water
at
the
annual
water,
tap
versus
bottled
water
taste,
test
12-1.
Thank
you.
G
Thank
you,
I
know,
which
one
is
going
to
win.
Tell
you
that
right
now,
right
now,
my
bet
is
on
the
city
water,
because
it
is
awesome.
Thank
you,
president.
Nicely
I,
I'm
glad
that
you
brought
up
the
communication
from
the
national
forest
that
surrounds
us
and
the
name
change.
It
was
heartening
to
hear
that
it
is
going
to
be
moving
forward,
but
still
has
a
process
to
go
through
in
order
to
get
there.
G
It
was
certainly
heartening
for
me
to
hear
this
often
I
just
want
to
share.
The
last
thing
I
want
to
share
with
council
is
that
I
received
this
really
interesting
package
of
little
notes
from
a
faculty
member
at
Ohio
University
that
was
running
the
green
project
camp
on
campus
by
the
Stacy
Literacy
Center
at
Ohio
University,
and
this
was
for
7
to
12
year
olds.
Most
of
the
letters
that
I
received
I
think
were
for
seven-year-olds
and
it
all
councilman
Carl
doesn't
make
you
smile.
G
It
all
had
to
do
with
what
are
ways
in
which
the
city
could
improve
ourselves
when
it
comes
to
helping
the
environment-
and
it
was
everything
from
appreciating
and
encouraging
us
to
continue
to
adhere
to
the
plastic,
single-use
plastic
bag
ordinance,
but
also
I'm,
seeing
a
lot
of
broken
glass
on
the
ground.
Can
we
inform
people
that
glass
is
a
recyclable
material
and
not
just
throw
bottles
on
the
ground?
So
there's
really
some
pretty
cute
stories
in
here,
but
it's
great
to
see
that
you
know
kids
as
young
as
seven
that
this
is.
G
B
D
G
Can
answer
that?
Okay
I'm
not
very
familiar
with
the
gas
aggregation?
It
currently
exists,
so
the
everyone
who
is
underneath
the
nopec
gas
aggregation
they're
already
experiencing
the
savings
through
aggregated
gas.
So
nothing
will
change
when
it
comes
to
that.
This
is
simply
disentangling
soapek,
being
the
pass-through
of
the
rates
that
people
are
are
paying
for
the
gas
and
then
sending
that
on
to
no
pack,
and
that
was
due
to
a
partnership
that
agreed
that
was
agreed
upon
back
in
2017
when
we
entered
into
the
this
gas
aggregation.
G
G
You
know
a
lot
of
the.
There
is
a
number
of
units
where
the
landlord
is
not
paying
those
utilities.
It
is
in.
You
know
incumbent
upon
the
renter
to
have
electric
gas
so
on
and
so
forth,
and
so
therefore
it
would
be
a
good
idea
to
get
a
refresh
out
to
all
the
accounts
in
the
city
of
Athens
just
to
remind
them
that
yeah
they're
under
the
no
pack
gas
aggregation
and
if
they
aren't
to
enter
into
it.
B
The
questions
or
comments,
if
not,
we
have
a
motion
and
second
for
approval
of
82-23,
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye,
aye
opposed,
nay,
the
motion
carries
and
the
ordinance
is
approved.
84-23
is
an
ordinance
grinding.
A
special
right-of-way
use
permit
at
39
Hooper
Street
to
Patrick
and
James
balding
owners
for
continued
use
of
a
city
right-of-way
for
an
existing
fence,
and
this
is
introduced
by
council
member
Grace.
Thank.
D
B
Not
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye,
aye
opposed,
nay,
the
motion
carries
in
the
ordinance
is
approved.
85
23
is
an
ordinance
accepting
a
certificate
of
registration
from
Madison
energy,
Cooperative
Association
utility
pipeline
limited
for
use
of
the
city's
right-of-way
introduced
by
council
member
Grace.
C
Second,
thank
you.
Member
zip,
and
this
is
somewhat
similar,
but
it
has
distinct
differences.
It's
a
different
action
under
title
49,
and
that
is
that
utility
companies,
public
utility
companies
that
are
utilizing
the
right-of-way
in
the
city
of
Athens,
are
required
to
provide
a
certificate
of
registration,
and
just
this
helps
us
with
our
record
keeping.
So
we
know
which
companies
have
which
Utilities
in
which
locations-
and
this
ordinance
is
part
of
the
process
through
which
Council
accepts
the
certificate
that
has
been
submitted.
B
I
I
We
I
have
the
the
van
and
the
asset
numbers
in
our
packets.
So
let
me
just
read
section
two:
the
above
list
of
vehicle
is
hereby
authorized
for
disposal
by
donation
to
other
governmental
agencies,
auctions,
sealed
beds,
trade-in,
sell
for
scrap
or
Enterprise
wholesale
auctions
or
other
Enterprise
Outlets.
B
A
F
You
members,
if
there
are
two
items
in
this
appropriation,
ordinance
and
I'll,
go
ahead
and
read
through
these.
The
2023
appropriation
ordinance
155-22
is
hereby
amended
by
appropriating
from
the
unappropriated
balance.
The
following
sums:
3
640
to
the
general
fund
lands
in
buildings
for
the
2023,
no
pack
energized
Community
Grant.
F
F
This
appropriation
also
has
twenty
thousand
dollars
to
the
water
fund,
Administration
for
payments
to
the
liacx
Rural
Water
District,
Under,
The,
Kershaw
green
agreement
and
increasing
the
total
Appropriations
by
the
same
amounts.
This
payment
is
for
the
new
Housing
Development
on
682,
near
the
intersection
of
Union,
Street
and
682,
and
as
part
of
this
development
project,
it
was
agreed
to
provide
these
payments
to
the.
A
B
B
B
This
is
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
service
safety
director
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
a
leeax
regional
water
district
for
release
of
certain
real
estate
Parcels
to
the
city
for
water
service,
along
Dairy
Lane
and
is
introduced
by
council
member
McCary,
and
if
there
are
no
questions
or
comments,
I'll
move
on
to
the
next
one,
and
that
is
89.23
an
ordinance
declaring
certain
Police
Department
Firearms
no
longer
needed
for
a
municipal
purpose.
This
is
introduced
by
council
member
McCary.
B
This
is
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
service
safety
director
to
enter
into
an
LPA
Federal
local,
let
project
agreement
with
the
state
of
Ohio
Department
of
Transportation
for
sidewalk
accessibility
and
traffic
signal
improvements
in
the
Uptown
area.
This
is
known
as
project
329
and
declaring
an
emergency
introduced
by
council
member
Reisner
and
if
no
comments
or
questions
our
next
one
is
90.
1
excuse
me:
90,
yes,
91-23
an
ordinance
authorizing
service
safety
director
to
advertise
and
accept
bids
and
enter
into
contracts
for
construction
and
construction.
B
H
Yes,
ma'am
three
weeks
ago,
when
this
was
before
committee,
we
were
talking
about
this
project,
particularly
the
part
on
Washington
Street
and
the
eyes
sword
that
is
presented
by
the
overhead
lines
and
street
lights,
and
all
of
that
director
Stone.
If
I
recall,
you
were
going
to
possibly
look
into
what
the
price
would
be.
If
we
would
get
get
that-
and
you
said
we
still
have
two
more
weeks,
but
you
said
you'd
hope
to
get
it
before
we
got
to
third
reading.
Have
you
been
able
to
get
a
some
kind
of
an
estimate?
J
You,
member
Swank,
I,
appreciate
your
question.
It's
Christian,
given
the
correspondence
that
I've
had
with
American
Electric
Power
over
the
last
several
days
about
this
particular
issue.
I
think
it's
in
the
400
000
range
for
that
section
right
there
to
get
those
underground
I'd
have
to
get
back
and
get
that
exact
number
for
you.
One
of
my
observations
with
American
Electric
Power.
Is
they
don't
want
to
do?
It
is
all
the
situations
where
we
asked
them
to
go
underground.
You
know
that
the
utility
you
know
I
understand.
J
We
need
to
go
underground
here
and
we're
willing
to
pay
for
the
cost
associated
with
Going
Underground,
but
you
need
to
give
us
the
estimate
for
that,
and
so
you
know
the
customer
service
representative
that
we
deal
with
regularly
has
indicated
that
that
she'll
get
the
the
designers
on
their
side
moving,
so
that
they
can
happen
in
conjunction
with
the
construction
project
that
we're
willing
to
do.
That's
where
we
are
thank.
J
I
think
if
we
added
both
that
section
as
well
as
well
as
State
Street
I
mean
the
figure
would
probably
be
north
of
a
million
dollars.
But
right
now
we're
focused
on
West
Washington,
specifically,
because
that
that
particular
area
is
one
that
does
I
think
it
will
be.
You
know
easy
as
relative,
but
but
that
is
a
section
that
is
much
easier
to
do
relative
to
the
the
Washington
Street
section.
J
If
you
look
at
the
number
of
private
res
private
Parcels
that
are
served
by
overhead
service,
that
would
then
subsequently
have
to
reinstall
all
of
their
electric
services
to
receive
service
from
underground.
That's
really.
The
biggest
barrier
in
in
switching
from
overhead
to
underground
is
not
so
much
the
utility
Going
Underground,
although
that
is
important
than
finding
space
for
the
Transformers
to
go,
but
then
also
telling
individual
Property
Owners.
You
no
longer
can
have
your
electric
service
the
way
you
want
it.
J
Instead,
you
must
pay
to
have
that
electric
service
come
in
underground
and
do
it
on
our
timeline
and
that's
what's
hard
about
getting
electric
underground
right
now
that
block
West
Washington
specifically
has
electric
service
to
go
to
the
frontier
building
and
electric
service
to
go
to
People's
Bank
from
Transformers
that
are
there.
I
think
both
of
those
will
be
relatively
easy.
In
fact,
I
was
looking
at
it
today
to
figure
how
to
how
to
get
that
service
to
change
from
overhead
to
underground.
J
H
And
don't
give
around
400
000
it's
a
lot
of
money,
but
I
would
I
went
up.
There
today
took
pictures
which
I
was
hoping
to
load,
but
I
would
invite
members
of
council
to
go
up
there
and
stand
in
front
of
artifacts
or
Casa
and
look
across
the
street
at
Tony's
and
just
look
at
the
what
I'll
call
a
collaboration
of
wires
and
poles
and
stuff
everywhere,
and
so
maybe
we
get
back
together
in
two
weeks
to
vote
on
this.
We
might
be
able
to
consider
at
least
looking
at
that.
G
For
that
utility
you
know,
I
think
director
stone
is
actually
you
know
a
little
on
the
light
side
when
I
look
at
at
what
it
was
going
to
cost
the
city
to
do
two
blocks
on
Stimson
Avenue
back
in
2021
with
the
Stimson
Avenue
Improvement,
it
was
1.5
million
dollars
to
give
it
underground,
which,
as
director
Stone
was
saying,
was
the
Transformers
and
everything
you
know
I
think
to
do
Washington
again,
I'm,
not
an
engineer.
He
is.
But
you
know
you
look
at
you.
G
Look
at
as
you've
seen
this
the
hanging
spaghetti
noodles
everywhere
up
there
and
it's
probably
closer
to
two
million
dollars
to
get
that
you
know
and
including
North
North,
well,
Carpenter
Street.
If
we
were
to
be
able
to
be
successful
in
going
after
an
ACG
Grant
to
cover
something
like
that,
so
there
is
an
opportunity.
It's
a
lot
timing,
though,
to
make
sure
we
can
do
it,
but
I'm
going
to
give
it
a
shot
and
see
if
we
can
get
in
a
further
uptown
movement
project
using
the
Appalachian
Community
School.
B
C
C
If
If
part
of
the
issue
is
you
know,
on
West
Washington
is
easier,
relatively
speaking
than
West
State,
due
to
the
fact
that
there
are
only
two
Property
Owners
on
that
that
block
of
West
Washington
compared
to
the
many
on
West
State
that
I
don't
know
if
that's
allowable
under
the,
but
if,
if
so
I
think
that
might
be
something
that
would
help
the
businesses
and
the
property
owners
there
to
be
more
enthusiastic
about
the
project.
Perhaps.
G
Yeah
I
mean
that's
something
that
we
can
certainly
look
into.
You
know
trust
me.
The
the
guidelines
for
the
ACG
grants
it's
basically
an
aircraft,
that's
being
built
as
it's
flown
they're
constantly
changing.
We
did
get
some
firm
guidance
more
recently
as
to
what
is
allowable
and
what
isn't
allowable,
but
I
can
certainly
ask
the
people
that
are
working
on
it
to
find
out
for
us
whether
that's
a
permissible
expense.
Thank.
E
Thank
you,
President
nisley.
We
discussed
this
in
committee
with
the
presence
of
the
fire
chief
recently
and
are
really
just
attempting
to
update
the
fines
associated
with
fire
violations
to
reduce
the
number
of
violations
that
occur.
So
in
the
spirit
of
safety.
We
I
would
encourage
the
adoption
I'm
going
to
read
section
B
any
person
who
shall
violate
section
9.05.08
of
Athens
city
code
on
a
first
offense
shall
be
deemed
guilty
of
a
minor
misdemeanor
and
find
not
more
than
150
dollars.
E
A
third
offense
with
a
two-year
period
shall
be
deemed
a
misdemeanor
of
the
third
degree
punishable
by
not
more
than
60
days
in
jail
and
a
fine
of
not
more
than
500,
and
the
fourth
offense
within
a
two-year
period
shall
be
deemed
a
misdemeanor
of
the
second
degree
punishable
by
not
more
than
90
days
in
jail
and
Define
of
not
more
than
750
dollars.
Each
time
a
violation
occurs
shall
constitute
a
separate
and
complete
offense.
So
again,
these
are
increases
in
penalties
for
buyer
violations.
C
B
Any
other
questions
or
comments
all
right
if
none
we'll
move
on
to
94-23.
This
is
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
service
safety
director
to
enter
into
a
memorandum
of
understanding
and
addendum
with
the
Ohio
organized
crime.
Investigations.
Commission
task
force
number
22-09
introduced
by
council
member
McCary.
E
Thank
you,
president
Eisley,
as
discussed
recently
in
committee.
It's
not
at
all
unusual
for
our
law
enforcement
to
establish
Mutual
Aid
agreements,
and
this
task
force
is
indeed
an
opportunity
to
collaborate
to
investigate
crimes,
including
murder,
corrupt
activity,
money
laundering,
trafficking
and
drugs,
possession
of
drugs
corrupting
and
other
with
drugs,
and
so
on
and
so
forth,
and
this
would
be
inclusive
of
counties.
Athens,
Morgan,
Noble,
Monroe,
Meigs
and
Washington
I.
E
Believe
that's
most
of
the
pertinent
information
I'll
read
from
section
one
that
the
service
safety
director
is
hereby
authorized
to
enter
into
a
memorandum
of
understanding
and
addendum
with
the
Ohio
organized
crime.
Investigations
commission
task
force,
22-09
the
copy
of
which
is
attached
here
to
and
Incorporated
herein
by
reference.
B
F
F
This
is
a
program
that
provides
books
to
Children
between
the
ages
of
zero
and
five
I
believe
Mr
smoke.
Yes,
sir,
and
it's
a
wonderful
program,
we
did
discuss
at
committee
the
possibility
of
funding
this
for
for
several
years,
but
the
amount,
depending
on
the
number
of
children
who
are
enrolled
in
the
program
changes
year
to
year
and
and
quite
frankly,
I
enjoy
our
our
now
annual
visits
by
director
Tepe.
To
hear
about
how
successful
this
program
is
and
to
hear
a
little
bit
about
the
Athens
Public
Library.
F
F
We
discussed
this
many
months
ago
at
committee,
but
the
check
just
came
in
and
so
the
Arts
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
is
requesting
this
appropriation
as
soon
as
possible
so
that
they
can
work
on
the
skate
park,
and
then
we
have
a
200
000
appropriation
to
the
Arts
Parks
and
Recreation
fund
273.
This
is
for
a
transfer
and,
of
course,
we'll
be
increasing.
F
All
the
total
Appropriations
by
these
same
amounts
I'll
go
ahead
and
read
section
two
here:
the
2023
appropriation
ordinance
is
amended
by
decreasing
storm
water,
environmental
control,
fund
transaction
code
500
by
500,
and
increasing
the
storm
water,
environmental
coordinator
fund
transaction
code,
200
and
300
by
that
same
amount.
So
this
is
simply
transferring
500
from
the
capital
line
in
that
fund
to
the
supplies
line
so
that
safety
supplies
can
be
can
be
purchased.
F
F
B
We'll
move
on
if
there
are
no
other
questions
or
comments,
announcements
and
other
business,
we
will
be
having
a
committee
meeting
next
Monday
night
and
the
other
announcement
that
we
have
right
now.
Well,
I
will
check
to
see
if
council
members
have
any
other
announcements.
Yes,
council
members
thank.
D
You
president
I,
was
like
yeah.
It
goes
well
with
what
councilmember
Kyle
was
just
talking
about
with
the
the
appropriation
for
skate
Jam.
That
will
be
happening,
this
Saturday
from
noon
until
nine
at
the
Athens
Skate
Park.
If
you
want
to
come
watch
some
awesome
people
do
some
awesome
and
slightly
terrifying
things
and
help
support
a
good
cause.
Get
some
food.
Have
a
beverage
can
watch
me,
put
my
paramedic
hat
on
and
be
terrified
as
skaters
do
things
that
skaters
do
oh
God,
but
coming
out.
B
C
So
she
her
appointment,
will
be
for
one
year
to
finish
the
term
of
an
individual
who
moved
out
of
town
and
the
second
individual
is
Kimberly
Francis,
and
she
is
an
attorney
here
in
Athens
and
works
with
a
lot
of
individuals
who
struggle
to
find
housing
that
meets
their
needs
and
is
within
their
budget.
So
she
is
very
interested
in
working
with
the
affordable
housing
commission,
and
so
I
would
like
to
make
a
motion
that
we
accept
their
wonderful
offers
of
service
and
appoint
them
to
the
affordable
housing.
Commission.
Second,.
A
B
Last
item
before
we
make
a
motion
to
go
into
executive
session
is
an
opportunity
for
citizens
to
speak
on
legislative
items
and
city
services
not
covered
on
our
agenda.
So
anyone
in
the
audience
who
is
wanting
to
make
a
statement
for
items
that
were
not
on
the
agenda
tonight.
They
have
up
to
three
minutes.
B
There's
no
one,
then
we'll
move
on
to
our
next
item
and
what
we
will
be
doing
is
we're
going
to
be
taking
a
motion
to
go
into
executive
session
and
once
we
do
that,
we
will
pause
and
I
know
that
there
are
students
here
that
are
wanting
to
talk
to
elected
officials
and
other
administrations.
So
we
we
will
allow
you
15
minutes
from
the
time
that
we
make
that
motion
to
to
do
that.
Once
we
go
into
executive
session,
we
do
close
the
doors
when
we
come
out
of
executive
session.
E
B
Is
do
we
have
a
second
second
okay
and
we
do
a
roll
call
Vote
for
This,
so
council,
member
spielness,
council,
member
Eisner,
aye,
Carl
hi,
that's
swing,
aye,
Grace,
aye,
zip,
aye,
mccarry,
aye,
okay,
all
right,
it
is
7
43,
so
you've
got
15
minutes,
so
you've
got
to
758,
let's
say
8
o'clock,
to
be
able
to
ask
questions
of
any
of
the
council
members
here.
Thank
you.