Athens City Council will discuss a one-reading resolution Monday night opposing the closing of the Hocking Correctional Unit in Nelsonville.
The resolution would also urge Ohio’s state government to work with local governments to reduce the the impact of that action.
According to a previous Post report, the Hocking Correctional Unit houses about 430 inmates, employs about 110 staff members and will close due to high operating costs and a decreasing prison population in Ohio.
The facility is the second largest consumer of water and sewer services in Nelsonville, according to the previous Post report. The facility's closure could result in a loss of up to $360,000 in revenue for the City of Nelsonville, Athens City Council President Chris Knisley, D, said at the last council meeting.
“It will impact Nelsonville greatly,” Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, said. “This is another push toward for-profit prisons, which is zero help towards anything we do down here, with opioids or anything.”
Another ordinance would amend the city code to create Title 49, which deals with passed citizen initiatives, such as The Athens Cannabis Ordinance. That resolution is up for third reading.
“I believe that our local government should be going out of its way to honor its citizens’ will,” Athens Cannabis Commission Treasurer Caleb Brown said at a previous meeting.
Members will discuss multiple ordinances, including ordinances for second reading that would authorize Athens City Mayor Steve Patterson to apply for two grants.
One grant is a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That would be used to address possible storm water runoff improvement projects in the city.
The other grant is the Small Cities Grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation. This grant would be used to address pavement on West Union Street.
