City of Athens, Ohio Mayors Press Conference 2021, 31 Mar 2021

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From YouTube: Mayor's Weekly Update - March 31, 2021

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Mayor's Weekly Update - March 31, 2021

A

The athens weekly updates uh with the mayor and with kyle johansen kyle we've been doing this for two years or more now, yep almost two years, almost two years and as usual, it's always it's been great, having you on and continually hopefully you'll you're willing and wanting to continue on for another.

A

Who knows how long forever, I hope uh kyle, let's uh give us the the weather forecast or the weather updates, what what it's gonna look like over the next seven days.

B

So today we'll look for cloudy skies. A high of 56. tonight's showers, early widespread frost, likely well 27 tomorrow, mostly cloudy high of 38.

B

Tomorrow night's clearing well 21 heart freeze, expected friday, sunny high 46 friday nights must be clear, low of 23 saturday, partly cloudy high of 60.

B

saturday night's partly cloudy high above 39 sunday, probably cloudy high of 66 sunday nights, mostly clear above 38. monday, mostly sunny. I have 71 monday nights, partly cloudy 12 46 tuesday, probably friday, high of 73 tuesday nights, probably cloudy with 49 and next wednesday, probably quality high 78 and low 52 of cloudy.

A

High of 78., so you know clearly kyle people need to bring. You know any delicate plants in from outside tonight, and actually I would encourage them for the next few days you know or if they're in the ground make sure you you've got some kind of covering over them or you're going to lose them.

A

You know and kyle. I don't know if you and your family have had a chance um to go down and and sit underneath the cherry blossoms on the bike path. I saw them.

B

Yesterday, did you see them yeah.

A

My wife and daughters- and I went down yesterday evening around 6 30 or so and had a little something to snack on and sat under the trees, and it was quite pleasant. I don't expect it to be quite as pleasant this evening and it certainly won't be for the next few days. So if you miss them, blame another blame mother nature for.

A

Impacting our beloved cherry blossoms kyle update us on everything covet 19.

B

So today there have been that 1989 new clone of virus cases behind the last 24 hours brings the total of 1 million 20 000 cases and 18 000 deaths, nationwide, 30.5 million cases and roughly over 550 000 deaths globally, 128.9 million cases and 2.9 million dead in friday. Last week I got my first stealth modern vaccine, and I go get my second dose in 23 days back in mcgarver at the vin county, fairgrounds.

A

Outstanding and kyle, I know you well enough. You are probably sitting there with your calendar and checking off those days to when you can get your next vaccine looking forward to you being fully vaccinated, as well as your family, getting vaccinated so good for you kyle, um who are you athletics,.

B

So the womans are at miami tomorrow night at 7 p.m: field, hockey's, home on friday at 1 pm saturday, 1, 30, pm soccer's at kent, state sunday and soccer's back home for the last time, thursday and sunday and then softball's back home this weekend, baseball's back home this weekend and then baseball away. Softball will be away then, basically be back home for a couple, more home stretches and then they're off away and then field hockey will start again in august.

B

Soccer will be backing off because as soon as we get back to this pre cova normal, which is about four or five months away,.

A

Great and you know back to covet 19 real, quick kyle. I know that we've been hearing uh the governor mentioned something at a press conference that he had in macarthur in vinton county, and that was the possibility of having more vaccine made available to colleges and universities in the state of ohio and that that would be the johnson johnson vaccine, which makes a lot of sense to me to where it's a single dose vaccine.

A

And again good to hear if that does actually transpire. um Hopefully that is the case that that can happen, and uh you know we're constantly watching what is going on with our own numbers. Do you have any sense kyle as to whether the infection race rate here in the state of ohio, whether you're tracking, whether that's increasing staying the same or decreasing, for the state.

B

It's going up so like six weeks ago, it's gone up by 15 to these variants.

A

15, I know the state of michigan has seen a significant increase for as well in florida. Okay. So to that point- and I just share this with people- because I I think that as more and more are becoming vaccinated, I saw some numbers the other day, broken out by age, demographics and uh individuals aged 70, plus about 75 percent of athens county has gotten vaccinated 70 to 79.

A

It was somewhere in the 60 range and it kind of kept dropping off, which makes sense, given the cohorts that were eligible to get the vaccine.

A

The the thing that's really important is that even when you get vaccinated, you need to continue to wear face coverings when you're out in public and entering public spaces. You know we we need to continue to protect each other. You know so keep wearing a mask uh even with the 90 effectiveness of the pfizer and the moderna and whatever it is for jay and jay.

A

I think we can't let up. We can't you know, start congregating in larger settings. uh We shouldn't be, you know, so I just want to make sure that point is is coming across to everybody.

A

As we're still working our way through the pandemic and as you indicated kyle all the variants, I mean there's we're seeing more and more variants coming up, which is typical for any virus that wants to stay alive and keep mutating um it's going to mutate, so kyle, as always my friend thank you, um continue to be safe and I know that you are and your family as well, and uh we will see you again next wednesday next wednesday next wednesday um kyle be prepared that I may be deploying a whole bunch of april fool's jokes tomorrow.

A

So uh you never know you never know. You never know all right. Kyle.

B

A

You too, all right uh some of the things going on around the city um I may have mentioned this already, but the national league of cities has appointed me to the race, equity and leadership council.

A

It's a one to two year appointment, and so I will be serving in that capacity not only for the city of athens, but also for the state of ohio um in all things related to racial equity, um so that was quite the honor, the uh 2020 income tax.

A

uh It's an announcement coming out of the athens city, income tax administrator's office, and that is the filing deadline: change that the city income tax deadline for filing the 2020 tax returns. It has been extended to may 17th, so, instead of april 15th, um it has been extended to may 17th. Nothing further needs to be done to extend your deadline.

A

You know that date will be automatically extended um due to the the date of the first quarter, 2020 estimated payments that will remain april, 15th of 2020. So if you do, your quarterly returns make sure you get those in on april 15th but again extended tax filing income tax filing is may 17th spring cleanup.

A

I've brought this up before april 19th through the 23rd this year.

A

uh You know if you want to put out as much as you want to it's unlimited amount of bags. You can set out the curb, do this on your normal trash collection days and have it out there before 7 a.m.

A

You know if you've got larger items. I've not brought this up before that are special haul items.

A

They can also be placed at the curb, but you need to make sure that you call ahead of time at 592-3350 in during normal business hours and set up an appointment for special hall pickups and it is 15 per cubic yard that will apply to special halls. So keep that in mind as well.

A

Dumpsters will be available to service garage out at 387 west state street. This is for scrap metal and trash. Construction. Debris is not acceptable in the dumpsters residents may deposit large items and scrap metal in the containers between 7 30 am and 3 30 pm monday through friday, without charge. You do do need to bring your photo id as well as your utility bill, showing your address to verify that you are a city resident.

A

um So take advantage of that. If you have questions about the dumpsters, you can reach out to director david riggs at the development and code enforcement office at 592-3306 for more info on the dumpsters arts parks and rec.

A

um I've mentioned this before, but worth reminding people they are accepting applications for groundskeeper. This is the city of athens, full-time groundskeeper.

A

They will be responsible for general maintenance of all parts parks and recreational facilities perform general custodial duties in those facilities.

A

The position is in the classified service of this city, so it requires a six-month probationary period uh and is covered by the fair labor standards act. Again. It's a full-time job, uh regular work schedule monday through friday, 7 30 to 4 p.m. It is a pay grade, one starting at 13 and 50 cents an hour. So if you're interested in this, please reach out to the city's hr department- and you can do that.

A

By emailing director ron lucas at human resources at ci.athens.org.

A

Or you can call 592-3367 and you can always go to the city's website and look at the city of athens jobs, lifeguards, we're also looking for lifeguards.

A

um This would be a seasonal position extending to last approximately 120 days and the pay rate for the lifeguards is nine dollars an hour and if I'm not mistaken, uh we are allowing for certified lifeguards of age 16 and a 16 plus.

A

So that's something worth reaching out to the human resources department as well via email that I've already given you uh or calling 592-3367 or again visit the city's website uh under city of athens jobs.

A

uh Today's the last day for spring youth soccer registration, you know, don't miss out. You can call the city, arts parks and recreation at 592-3325 to register your child for soccer uh activities, fun activities for your preschooler. You can check out the hippo huppo classes. This is for ages, three through five to provide high energy classes that introduces three to five year olds to the basics of dance.

A

You can stop at the city webs or city center community center rather or you can call like. I said at.

A

And 592-3325 looking for ways to relax, you can sign up for the city's flow yoga with holly and stretch your stresses away. Classes are going to begin monday march 29th and run through it looks like may 24th. This is every monday from 5 30 to 6 30 p.m.

A

There's only a few spaces left. I could imagine, there's a lot of people who want to partake in something that is a stress reliever. So for those few spaces you know I I would suggest that you hustle down there or call or go to the community center's website and sign up for that class.

A

The health department registration for vaccination clinics are open again.

A

This is for vaccines. Next week, ages 16 plus are eligible to schedule on their website.

A

Anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian present for the vaccine. Appointments um so make sure that you take advantage of that. uh The looks like they're offering the pfizer vaccine, which is a two dose vaccination to make appointment. You can reach out to the city health department at get the shot one string at coronavirus nope. Let me rephrase that get the shot dot.

A

Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov gov, so you can sign up there, get the shot.coronavirus.ohio.gov upcoming meetings, we've got planning commission and that will be tomorrow and it will be at noon. I know that we have a couple cases on our agenda, so encourage you to tune in if you're interested, in that the joint police advisory council.

A

Will be having a meeting and athens city council april 5th at 7 pm as usual?

A

uh The last thing that I have for today is: I have a proclamation.

A

And that proclamation is for national public health week and with this proclamation I've got to say you know. The athens city county health department has just done a phenomenal job with giving us guidance through the entire pandemic. It's hard to believe that uh we're over one year in to the pandemic, and uh um you know I have to again give keep a huge amount of praise on dr gaskell on jack, pepper on ruth dunning, with all the folks down at the athens city county health department, for all the work they have put in.

A

They have been phenomenal.

A

uh The proclamation office of the mayor proclamation, whereas the week of april 5th, through the 11th of 2021, is national public health week and the theme is building bridges to better health and whereas, since 1995, the american public health association, through its sponsorship of national public health week, has educated the public policy makers and the public health professionals on issues important to improving public health and whereas life expectancy dropped from 2014 to 2017 in the longest sustained decline since the great recession, and only in 2018 began to increase again further studies consistently show.

A

The united states has a lower life expectancy than comparable countries, and whereas there is a significant difference in health status, such as obesity, mental health and drug use among people living in rural areas compared to those living in urban areas, this variations or variance increases because rural residents are more likely to face social determinants that negatively impact health, such as poverty, transportation, barriers and lack of economic opportunity, and whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for withstand and recover from the impacts of a full range of health threats, including disease outbreaks such as the covet 19 pandemic measles, natural disasters and disasters caused by human activity and whereas public health action together with scientific and technological advances, has played a major role in reducing, in some cases, eliminating the spread of infectious diseases and in establishing today's disease, surveillance and control systems, and whereas 6 in 10, u.s adults having chronic diseases and 4 in ten have two or more and health risks such as alcoholism.

A

Obesity tobacco use are the primary reasons for seven and every ten deaths annually in the united states and whereas the covet 19 pandemic has illuminated and exacerbated racial inequities and a growing number of local state and gov state government and public health leaders to declare racism a public health crisis.

A

Now, therefore, I steve patterson, the mayor of the city of athens, ohio, do hereby proclaim the week of april 5th, through the 11th of 2021 as national public health week 2021, and call upon all citizens in the city of athens to observe this week by helping our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and leaders to better understand the value of public health and supporting great opportunities to adopt preventative health style habits.

A

In light of this year's theme, building bridges to better health and to reach out to the athens city public health department and give them thanks for all the work that they have been doing during the covet 19 global pandemic.

A

A

Again, a big thank you to the athens city county health department for all. They have done all the heavy lifting that they have done for our community for our county uh and our citizenry. So uh thank you for tuning in and hopefully you will join me again next week for the next weekly update with.