Athens Mayor Ric Abel said at his weekly press conference yesterday he would not veto current city council legislation to wall off Court Street during Halloween.
Abel, who was joined by Ohio University President Roderick McDavis at the conference, said the legislation allows him to nix the wall if he determines the city lacks the resources to implement it.
The mayor's weekly conference covered a wide range of topics with McDavis in attendance, but much of the conversation focused on the annual Halloween celebration, which typically brings thousands of people to Athens for the city's largest street party of the year.
For his part, McDavis defended the $25 fee that the university will begin imposing on out-of-town guests staying in the residence halls during Halloween weekend next school year. He said the university is still figuring out how to implement the fee and would not specify whether it would be placed on OU students' bills or if somehow guests themselves would be billed directly.
I don't know of any hotel or motel where you can pay $25 to stay two nights
McDavis said. We were concerned first and foremost with the safety of our students G? There is a high cost to ensure that safety. 17
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Matt Zapotosky
