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From YouTube: Athens City Council - September 5, 2023
Description
Athens City Council - September 5, 2023
B
Good
evening
and
welcome
to
Athens
city
council,
it's
Tuesday
September
5th
2023
at
7
pm,
and
we
are
having
a
regular
business
meeting
tonight.
But
before
we
do
that,
we're
going
to
briefly
divert,
but
it's
still
part
of
our
business
meeting.
We
are
going
to
have
a
committee
of
the
whole
by
way
of
background.
B
Some
of
you
may
recall
that
at
August,
28th
I
believe
mayor
Patterson
mentioned
that
the
Wayne
National
Forest,
under
the
suggestion
from
community
members
and
also
some
Indian
tribes,
was
considering
renaming
of
the
forest,
and
you
may
comment
on
that
and
as
council
members
commented
also
on
it,
you
said
that
a
letter
or
a
resolution
would
perhaps
be
helpful
and
what
we
didn't
come
away
with.
Clearly
that
night
was
whether
or
not
to
go
forward
with
that.
So
we've
discovered
what
we
think
is
the
proper
mechanism
to
do
that.
B
We'll
have
a
committee
of
the
whole
discussion
and
at
the
request
of
council
member
Swank,
he
we
brought
that
forward
and
we
have
a
draft
a
letter
for
consideration.
That's
very
succinct
and
mentions
the
possibility
of
naming
it
the
Ohio
National
Forest,
and
that
was
in
part
taking
up
the
comments
from
council
member
McCary
and
talking
about
the
literal
translation
of
the
word
Ohio
as
an
Indian
name.
B
So
we
are
hopeful
that
the
letter
the
comment
period
was
to
end
September.
4Th
we've
read
in
the
at
least
in
the
dispatch
on
the
weekend
that
they're
we're
hoping
to
extend
that
to
September
5th,
and
we
will
open
this
up
for
discussion
under
Committee
of
the
whole
I'm
going
to
keep
us
to
the
guidelines
that
we
often
impose
on
are
other
presenters
that
we
have
a
15-minute
limit
per
topic.
B
So
I
have
set
the
timer
for
us
and
it'll
do
the
green,
yellow
red
for
us
and
when
our
time
is
up,
then
I
think
we
should
come
to
a
close
on
our
discussion.
If
there
is
consensus,
what
we
will
do,
then,
is
have
a
motion
to
approve
the
letter
if
it
would
so
work
in
that
way,
under
the
other
business
at
the
end
of
the
council.
Meeting
so,
and
I
can
very
briefly
be
just
so.
The
public
knows
what
the
letter
is.
B
We
concur
that
it's
important
to
have
a
name
that
reflects
the
historical
importance
of
the
only
National
Forest
in
Ohio
as
Ohio
is
the
Iroquois
name
word,
meaning
Great
River.
We
think
the
use
of
this
word
provides
a
significant
Heritage
link.
For
those
reasons,
we
support
a
name
change
to
incorporate
Ohio,
to
convey
its
significance
to
the
state
and
for
the
forest
to
be
named,
the
Ohio
National
Forest.
B
C
Have
to
excuse
me
my
computer
froze
here.
The
only
comment
I
would
have
and
I
would
throw
this
out
for
suggestion
since
we're
borrowing
from
the
yeah
and
yeah
okay
good,
since
we're
borrowing
from
the
the
Iroquois
in
terms
of
Ohio
I
saw
somewhere
and
I
couldn't
get
it
here,
but
I'm
sure
somebody
can
call
it
up.
I,
don't
know
if
you'd
call
it
a
phonetic
spelling
but
a
different
spelling,
and
if
we
go
with
Ohio.
C
Perhaps
we
could
put
that
in
parentheses
after
the
word
Ohio,
so
we
have
the
connection
okay,
and
it
also
gives
us
a
little
more
basis
for
suggesting
the
word
Ohio.
That
would
be
the
only
thing
that
I
would
suggest
that
we
consider
you
know
adding
to
this.
Okay,
unless
we
want
to
make
a
bobcat
forest
or
pop-off
Forest.
B
E
I
was
just
following
up
what
Swank
was
saying
with
the
spelling:
I
was
just
the
old,
the
old
Google
search,
I
think
it
originally.
The
Iroquois
word
was
in
in
R
Alpha.
We
o
y
o
I,
do
think
there
may
be
a
slight
issue
just
with
branding,
because
that's
a
really
popular
Spirits
brand
here
in
Ohio
I
mean
I.
E
Think
it
would
be
great
to
use
that
but
I
also
and
I
I,
don't
know
I
think
maybe
I
just
have
some
misgivings
about
potentially
accidentally
making
it
like
a
liquor
ad,
which
is
what
most
people
might
recognize
it
as
unfortunately,
but
I
don't
know
what
other
people
think
about
that
might
come
in
way
out
of
left
field
here.
But
what
was
the
spelling
on
I'm.
C
B
F
F
G
F
The
intent
behind
my
question
was
present
nicely
to
see
if
it
might
give
even
more
strength
to
a
letter
to
go
to
the
forest
service,
to
have
a
signature
block
for
the
law
director
and
for
the
mayor
at
the
bottom
of
this
letter
as
well,
where
it's
coming
from
the
three
branches
of
government
here
in
the
city
of
Athens,
so
that
was
a
friendly
suggestion.
Thank
you.
H
H
I
C
B
B
B
E
D
I
B
Aye,
okay,
thank
you.
The
minutes
have
been
approved
under
Communications.
We
have
one
notice
of
a
public
hearing,
and
this
is
that
Athens
city
council
will
hold
a
hearing
7
pm
on
Monday
September
18th
in
the
council
chambers,
and
that
will
be
at
7
pm
and
it's
to
consider
a
recommendation
from
the
Athens
City
Planning
Commission,
to
amend
the
city's
sign
regulations
to
include
feather
flags
as
temporary
Advertising
Signs
and
the
limitations
placed
on
them
would
be
that
they
would
not
exceed
two
per
property
or
one
per
business.
B
F
F
B
F
Great
another
item
that
I
have
I
just
want
to
share
with
Council
I've,
been
in
corresponding
via
email
with
Aaron
Thomas,
the
owner
of
a
rock
entertainment.
He
has
certainly
been
discouraged
with
the
lack
of
grant
funding
that
is
available
for
black
owned
businesses
in
Southeast
Ohio
he's
been
working
with
council
member
of
Micah
McCary
and
Lacey
Rogers,
our
Dei
a
coordinator
for
the
city
of
Athens.
He
did
have
in
his
email.
F
He
had
a
two-hour
meeting
with
Chief
Womack
of
the
the
director
of
minority
businesses,
which
a
two-hour
meeting
is
pretty
interesting.
I
found
that
to
be
good
news
at
least
that
he
is
speaking
with
the
powers
that
be
for
the
lack
of
funding
that
is
available
in
terms
of
Grants.
There's
lots
of
loan
funding
out
there,
but
that's
where
we're
lacking
is
grant
funding
for
minority-owned
businesses,
women-owned
businesses.
F
So
again,
as
a
matter
of
fact,
Lacy
Rogers
was
in
the
meeting
that
that
Aaron
Thomas
had
with
director
Womack
just
I'm
reporting
that
to
you
councils
that
you
know
she
is
working
really
hard
when
it
comes
to
equity
and
inclusion
here
in
the
city
of
Athens.
The
last
item
that
I
have
for
Council-
and
this
is
one
of
those
that
just
kind
of
tugs
at
you
a
little
bit
about
a
week
and
a
half
ago.
F
We
received
a
package
and
it
was
addressed
to
Paul
Logue,
and
so
we
opened
it
and
it
is
the
2021
John
Keller
honor
award
outstanding
small
town
or
World
planning
initiative,
and
this
is
for
the
Athens
2040
comprehensive
plan
for
the
city
of
Athens.
So
I
don't
know
if
Scott
or
Ryan,
if
you
guys,
can
kind
of
get
a
zoom
on
that.
But
Paul
is
one
of
those
individuals
who
will
be
forever
impacting
the
city
of
Athens
in
so
many
ways
so
to
receive
this.
F
B
B
J
J
B
Thank
you.
Are
there
any
comments
or
questions
from
Council
Members,
Administration,
other
elected
officials
or
our
audience
members,
if
not
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye
opposed,
nay,
the
motion
carries
in
the
ordinance
is
approved,
we'll
now
move
through
ordinances
for
second
reading,
and
you
said
that
there
might
be
one
in
here.
That
does
need
to
be
amended.
So
stop
me
when
we
get
there,
what
I
will
do
is
read
the
title
of
the
ordinance,
so
it's
had
its
second
reading.
I'll
pause
briefly
to
see.
B
B
J
J
It
says:
Athens
city
council
does
hereby
authorize
the
service
safety
director
to
execate,
execute
a
25-year
easement
agreement
with
Ohio
University
commencing
on
August
1st
2023,
but
to
replace
a
water
line,
and
it
is
that
we
are
going
to
the
service
safety
director
will
execute
a
25-year
replacement
easement
with
Ohio
University
commencing
on
August
1st
2023..
It
is
for
an
existing
water
line.
B
J
J
B
A
B
B
B
You
have
any
questions
or
comments
we'll
now
move
on
to
ordinances
for
first
reading.
8823
is
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
service
safety
director
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
the
liacx
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.
D
Thank
you,
president
nicely
I'll
read
first
from
section
one:
the
service
Safety
directors
hereby
authorize
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
the
liacx
regional
water
district
for
the
release
of
certain
real
estate
Parcels
to
the
city
for
water
service
along
Dairy
Lane.
A
copy
of
the
agreement
in
Athens
County
parcel
numbers
are
attached
here
too,
and
Incorporated
herein
by
reference
section
2
indicates
that
the
2023
appropriation
ordinance
155-22
is
amended
by
appropriating
from
the
unappropriated
balance
the
sum
of
178
thousand
dollars
to
water
fund.
Administration
740.3.
D
D
D
H
D
B
If
not
we'll
move
on
to
90
23,
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
Project
number
329
and
declaring
an
emergency
introduced
by
council
member
Reisner.
K
F
B
And
so
there
are
going
to
be
some
changes
in
that
area
and
Mill,
which
has
been
a
pedestrian
area
with
difficulty,
and
it
will
also
be
similar
to
some
of
the
improvements,
as
I
remember,
made
to
West
Union
several
years
ago,
where
there'll
be
improvements
to
sidewalks,
curbs
lighting
and
I'm,
not
sure,
if
there's
underground
is
there
any
infrastructure?
There
was
talk
about
also
a
possibility
of
burying
some
of
the
utility
lines,
but
that
was
we
weren't
sure
on
that,
yet
I
don't
think
still.
F
Exploring
West
Washington
Street
for
Going
Underground,
with
utilities
State
Street,
is
identicated
to
council
and
committee
is
that
it
would
be
extremely
expensive
to
try
and
conquer
the
overhead
utilities
on
State
Street
as
much
as
I
think
we
would
all
enjoy
that
to
include
some
of
the
property
owners
down
there,
but
it's
it's
not.
Unfortunately,.
K
Councilmember,
just
let
me
stay
here
for
the
ordinance
itself
does
not
specify
in
detail
what
the
the
projects
are.
It
states
the
project
number
which
is
329.
and
consequently,
how
329
is
executed
will
determine
how
all
this
is
accomplished.
So
we
there's
nothing
in
the
ordinance
itself.
That
says
anything
like
that.
B
Okay,
thank
you.
91
23
is
our
next
ordinance.
This
is
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
service
AP
director
to
advertise
and
accept
bids
where
necessary
and
enter
into
contracts
for
construction
and
construction
engineering
for
the
Uptown
improvements
project
number
329.,
introduced
by
council
member
Reisner.
Thank.
K
K
I'm
sorry
misspoke,
one
million
five
thousand
dollars
in
grant
funding
from
the
Ohio
Department
of
Transportation,
be
it
ordained
by
the
council,
the
city
of
Athens,
Ohio,
section
one.
The
service,
Safety
directors
hereby
authorized
to
advertise,
accept
bids
where
necessary
and
enter
into
contracts
with
the
lowest
and
best
bidder
for
construction
and
an
agreement
for
construction.
K
The
service
safety
director
is
hereby
authorized
to
expand
up
to
2
million
two
hundred
and
five
thousand
dollars
from
the
following
funds:
one
million
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
from
Street
Rehabilitation
fund
by
72
transaction
code,
500
and
1
million
five
thousand
dollars
from
ODOT
small
City
fund
589
for
project
number
329
section.
Four.
This
ordinance
shall
be
in
full
force,
in
effect,
honest
passage
and
approval
by
the
mayor.
B
K
Fifteen
hundred
dollars
to
cemetery
fund,
210
transaction
code,
200-300
for
administrative
fees
and
ten
thousand
dollars
to
DUI
Court
fund,
two
thirty,
seven
transaction
code
100
for
Grant
and
increasing
the
total
Appropriations
by
set
amount
section.
Two
of
the
ordinance
shall
be
in
effect
in
full
force
upon
passage
and
approval
by
the
mayor
member
Corral
sent
me
a
little
note
saying
that
at
our
committee
meeting
he
requested
I
believe
from
Tanya.
B
B
All
right,
if
not
we'll
move
on
to
announcements
and
other
business
next
Monday
night,
we
will
be
having
a
committee
meeting
and
and
I
believe.
That's
the
one
that
Nick
tefe,
the
director
of
the
library
is
coming
to
to
present
about
the
library
program
and
of
chairs
of
the
Committees,
have
any
agenda
items
that
they
need
to
notify
the
clerk
of
council.
Please
do
that
by
Wednesday,
so
she
can
get
the
agenda
ready
to
be
published
in
time.
B
So
we
have
three
items
of
business
under
our
other
business.
The
first
being
the
letter
that
we
considered
in
the
committee
of
the
whole
for
the
suggested
renaming
of
the
Wayne
National
Forest.
And
we
have
some
suggestions
on
slightly
modifying
the
language
and
adding
a
few
signature
lines.
And
if
that
is
in
agreement.
And
if
someone
is
in
favor
of
making
a
motion
to
approve
I
would
entertain
that.
B
B
D
D
D
I
B
H
Yes,
so
that
is
Steven
Sloan
and
many
of
you
know
him
as
I.
Do
I
worked
with
him
when
he
was
on
the
Clem
house
board,
as
I
was
for
a
couple
of
years
and
I
found
him
to
be
a
very
smart,
reasonable
and
a
person
who
really
thinks
through
things,
in
a
very
dispassionate
and,
of
course,
legal
way.
So
I
respect
him
highly,
but
anyway,
a
little
bit
of
experience.
He's
done.
Civil
litigation
probate
estate
planning
the
whole
nine
yards.
H
He
has
been
a
lawyer
in
this
community
for
a
very
long
time.
He
has
served
on
many
boards,
including
he
was
a
member
and
past
president
of
the
Athens
County
Habitat
for
Humanity
of
Southeast
Ohio.
He
currently
serves
as
a
legal
advisor
to
them.
He
served
on
the
Board
of
oblenis
Health
System,
including
as
its
chair.
He
has
served
as
a
past
president
of
Athens
athletic
booster
board
and
past
president
of
that
organization,
he's
served
on
the
Athens,
County,
Children,
Services,
Board,
etc,
etc,
etc.