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Athens City Service-Safety Director Paula Horan-Moseley, left, and Mayor Steve Patterson during the Athens City Council Meeting on Nov. 13. (FILE)

City Council: Cannabis ordinance and fracking bill of rights approach codification

At its Monday night meeting, Athens City Council discussed the codification of a Bill of Rights Initiative and The Athens Cannabis Ordinance.

A Bill of Rights Initiative petition was brought about to prevent potential damage of the local water supply by banning fracking. That petition passed in 2014. Council many be creating a new section of city code, Title 49, to include that initiative.

“When this petition was adopted by voters, it came up to council and we didn’t really do anything with it,” Councilman Jeffery Risner, D-2nd Ward, said.

The Athens Cannabis Ordinance, or TACO, passed in the 2017 general election with 77 percent of the vote, a higher percentage of votes than anyone running for a local political office. TACO received 2,000 votes; by comparison, council president Chris Knisley, who ran for re-election unopposed, received 1,984.

Council members also discussed the community solar program. This program proposes a carbon tax, a local solar development fund and renewable energy certifications. 

“This is a chance for the City of Athens to be not just a leader in this region, but statewide,” Eddie Smith, director of the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council, said.

Members discussed ownership of Athens Public Transit vehicles. In January 2015, Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program took control of the Athens Public Transit system. The City of Athens owns all but three of the vehicles, and Athens could retain ownership of the vehicles or transfer ownership to the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program.

“No matter who has ownership, the city still has a voice,” Jessica Stroh, employment and economic development director at the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program, said.

Members also discussed street closures for the International Street Fair on April 7.

@taylorheddleson

th623316@ohio.edu

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