An ordinance authorizing $145,000 to be spent on a project that would create safer walking routes for Athens City School students was discussed at yesterday's Athens City Council meeting.
The School Travel Plan focuses on three areas of improvement in Athens and is part of the Safe Routes to School project, which was authorized last year by City Council, said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at Large.
The project is part of a larger, statewide program through the Ohio Department of Transportation, she added.
Various state grants would fund 80 percent of the plan, and the remaining 20 percent would be paid for through locally collected taxes, Knisely said.
One area that could be improved is Verona Street, which would include updating the sidewalk and adding better drainage systems, Knisely said.
Although sidewalk improvements on Verona Street are necessary, City Council members said they are unsure of how the sidewalks would be fixed.
The project also lists Morris Avenue and Wallace Drive as areas that need upgrading. Knisely said. These streets also are experiencing drainage problems because of raised crosswalks, she added.
City Council members also would like to pave and add pavement markings on streets that are well traveled by Athens students. Construction is expected to be complete within 12 months, Knisely said.
The purpose (of the project) is to make (traveling to school) safe
Knisely said.
Twelve council members also talked about an ordinance that would allow the city to create a contract with Perfect Group, Inc., for energy saving improvements to various city facilities.
To finance the project, which would include improvements to the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., the Code Office, 28 Curran Dr. and City Hall, 8 E. Washington St., the city would take out $300,000 in financed loans, said Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at Large.
The total cost of the renovations would be about $400,000.
The upgrade is expected to save the city almost 300,000 kilowatts of energy, Gosney said. 1
News
Emily Bowman
