Discussion at last night's Athens City Council committee meeting included issues such as liquor permit holdings and bar disturbances, along with an improvement proposal for sidewalks and emergency sewage pump.
Athens Police Chief Rick Mayer asked council to review the liquor license of Evolution, 19 S. Court St., which is up for renewal due to a change in ownership. Furthermore, because of a recent increase in bar fights, he proposed training sessions for employees of all Athens bars to educate them on dealing with bar fights and assaults.
State liquor enforcement, in conjunction with the Athens Police Department and the fire department, held a training session for bar employees in 1994, Mayer said.
As a result, Mayer said he noticed much better cooperation between police and bar employees.
This training, in two-to four-hour sessions, lasted three years and should now be reinstated to prevent further problems, Mayer said. Liquor enforcement has agreed to fund these training sessions if council approves.
Crowding issues often lead to alcohol-related offenses, Mayer said, and he urged bar employees to call police before dealing with any incident.
Steve VonSleet, owner of both The Pub, 39 N. Court, and Pawpurr's Bar, 37 N. Court, said he was unaware of problems in communication between the bars and police.
We were told to call the police department and not handle it in the bars
Signs said. He said he is willing to cooperate with an annual training session.
Mike Murray, a bar and restaurant owner in Athens and Cincinnati, said he thought that calls to the police from the bars should be somehow distinguished in order to determine whether it was under the bar's control. Otherwise, he said, even street fights outside the bar would count as a penalty if called in.
It all comes down to are we going to be in jeopardy because we're calling the police now Murray said. It's kind of scary really
for the bar owners.
Nancy Bain, D-3rd ward, agreed that calls for service should be differentiated and council found it necessary for training programs to be reinstated with these problems in mind.
In other business, the Communications Committee will begin accepting bids for the 2006 Public Access Channel 23. Scott Thompson of the Athens Government Channel, who oversees the city's current contract with Athens Media Access Center, said he will begin drafting a proposed contract for their renewal with no substantial changes.
An emergency sewage situation near Columbus Road and Currier Drive prompted council to appropriate funds to buy a pump and piping to bypass two breaks in the sewer line.
Mayor Ric Abel asked for $80,000 to cover these costs as well as installation. This money will come from the unappropriated balance of the sewer fund. Although renting this equipment was considered, it would not be cost efficient.
The Finance and Personnel Committee appropriated $32,500 for the Underage Drinkers Fund for support and consultation by the Tri-County Mental Health & Accounting Counseling Services. This is a routine matter with funding coming from a designated source, said Dale Tampke, D-at-large.
As a result of last Saturday's public street tour, council plans to improve several problem areas. These projects are estimated at $450,000 and will come from the street rehabilitation fund, the street fund, the wheel tax, capital improvement, and the street highway fund. Included in the improvements are city streets and sidewalks.
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