Although a 2008 Athens city ordinance requires residents to remove vandalism from their private properties, city officials do not help pay for the cleanup - so a group formed last year is raising money to aid residents.
The ordinance, passed in August 2008, labels graffiti as a blight and public nuisance and required residents to remove all vandalism from private property.
It's an eye sore
Athens Police Officer Ron Brooks said. It can be found in every neighborhood in every corner of the city.
Last year, Athens Police responded to 385 complaints of public- and private-property vandalism, Police Capt. Tom Pyle said.
Currently, there are 28 private properties in the city of Athens where vandalism cleanup is an immediate concern, said Ron Lucas, assistant service safety director.
Although the Athens City Street Maintenance Department is responsible for removing all vandalism on public property - spending anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per year - private residents must supply their own cleanup, said Andy Stone, director of engineering and public works.
Public property includes street signs, traffic control boxes and public infrastructure, Stone said.
About a year ago, Brooks spearheaded an informal task force of eight volunteers to educate residents on how to handle vandalism, Lucas said.
Our goal right now is to meet with local groups such as neighborhood associations as well as municipal courts to get support and volunteers for a constant process Brooks said.
The group created a fund through private donations to purchase cleaning and safety supplies to help volunteers remove graffiti from private properties, Brooks said, adding that the group recently paid $1,000 of the fund to clean an alley wall on Court Street.
The group currently has about $500 in the fund, he added.
The group is working toward meeting about once a month to discuss how to tackle the current graffiti situation, said Athens City Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at Large, adding that they want to model Athens' initiative after those in larger cities, such as Columbus.
Although the group has paid for several cleanup endeavors, Brooks said having enough volunteers to help remove the graffiti is a problem.
A lack of volunteers to help out removing graffiti (is the major problem) Brooks said. It gets put up so fast that it looks like it has never been cleaned.
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Maggie Krueger
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An example of graffiti on the retention wall on West Stimson Avenue yesterday. (Matt Hatcher | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
