Members of Athens City Council discussed possible grants for the city during last night's committee meetings and special session.
Mayor Paul Wiehl talked to council about applying for a Neighborhood Revitalization grant through the Ohio Department of Development to be used in low and moderate-income areas. If received, the grant would award the city with $300,000, if the city provided an additional $150,000.
Representatives from the city could use the grant in a variety of ways, including sidewalk repair and water and sewer repair. City officials plan to send out a survey to residents in affected areas.
The idea there is we'll get some feedback on what they think needs to be done and what they see needs to be done
Wiehl said.
Sidewalk repairs also were brought up during the Transportation Committee meeting.
Law Director Pat Lang spoke to council about the legal aspects of enforcing sidewalk repairs for property owners. He pointed out some inconsistencies in the city's code that need to be addressed.
The cost share is the property owner repairs the sidewalk and we (the city) pay for the curb said Service Safety Director Paula Horan Moseley.
Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th ward, said that many residents had brought up sidewalk problems at last month's town hall meeting.
Council hosted a public hearing on the Madison Heights Planned Unit development before the meeting.
When it is finished, the development will have seven individual houses that will be part of one parcel of property, said Jim Bloom, owner of Diversified Properties, the company that is managing the property on East State Street and Madison Avenue.
Bloom is waiting on the council to approve the development to start building. It should take more than two years to finish the project, he added.
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Gail Burkhardt
