City council presented an ordinance lowering the annual budget for street pavements and repairs last night.
Under the ordinance, $125.000 will be used to fix problem areas on High Street, West State Park and the Sunset Drive. Paul Wiehl, D- 1st ward, said the allowance is less than usual because council has other major issues with which to deal.
Wiehl did not say exactly how much council spent last year.
Some of the major monetary allotments could go to a bike path extension from Cook Drive to Strouds Run Drive, middle school and sewer system repairs and a 4 percent salary increase for police officers and lieutenants.
Council also authorized the service-safety director to advertise, accept bids and enter into contracts for the construction of roadways, curbs, sidewalks and ramps in the vicinity of Athens' middle school. Council would like construction to begin by June 12, and finish before school begins in the fall, said Amy Flowers, D-at large.
Mayor Ric Abel said repairs will begin this summer on the Sunset Drive slips sewer system. Land has been sliding down the Sunset Drive slips, a group of hills, for several years. Possible bidders have already looked into the location's geography, and Abel said bidders foresee few problems.
Council passed an ordinance allowing Abel to file an application with the Ohio Department of Transportation for grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Laws.
The grant would go toward improving public transit in Athens. Council will be meeting with an ODOT consultant to map out more efficient transit routes that would eliminate redundant services through the university and the city
Carol Patterson, D-at large, said.
Council has been discussing charging Ohio University students a yearly fee for public transportation when the city implements the improved routes. Using the independently contracted University Courtyard transit as a model, city council would like the new transit to run until 9:30 p.m. on weeknights and 2:30 a.m. on weekends, Patterson said. 17
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