Ohio University and Athens city officials are already thinking about keeping annual Halloween festivities safe, even though the event is more than a month away.
Athens City Council unanimously adopted four ordinances Monday night in anticipation of the crowds that will converge on Court Street the night of Oct. 27.
These ordinances will close Court Street between Mulberry and Carpenter streets, establish a glass-free drinking container zone between Union and State streets, allow vending in a designated area and temporarily suspend the noise ordinance.
“These ordinances will all be dealing with setting the city up to ensure we have a safe and fun time for all,” said Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at large.
These ordinances have an annual presence in the minutes of Athens City Council, said Council President Jim Sands. He added that the ordinances seem “to be a great improvement for safety.”
Though the festivities take place off campus, OU will have volunteers walking down Court Street during the event, but university officials haven’t decided if students will be involved, Interim Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones said.
“We’ve been using volunteers for Halloween for as long as I can remember … this is one of those things that we’ve been doing for a while,” Hall-Jones said, adding that though students haven’t been involved in the past, “it’s definitely on the table that we’re going to open it up to the students.”
But Halloween is a costly endeavor for the city, and last year, the celebration cost the city between $75,000 to $80,000, said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at large.
Council also considered an offer from the Athens County Commissioners to unite city and county sewage and water systems in southeast Athens. No expenses would be charged to the city, but the plan is estimated to cost the county $60 million.
The linkage would be a regional partnership for environmental and financial benefits, said Commissioner Lenny Eliason.
Still, lack of zoning codes in the area could be a potential threat to the cleanliness and safety of the city’s water and sewage, said Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward.
“There is no control. Who would be responsible?” she said. “It not only affects our sewer system, but our people as well.”
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