When it comes to public works projects, Ohio University and the city of Athens have what many consider to be an uncommon relationship.
The two were founded fewer than 10 years apart and their about 200-year relationship is exemplified through their continued cooperation on various projects.
“From an infrastructure management standpoint … OU’s facilities and our public works folks really have a long-time history of working together to solve utility problems,” said Ron Lucas, deputy service-safety director.
The basis of this relationship can legally be traced to an appendix to the city of Athens and Ohio University memorandum of understanding, which lays a framework for cooperation when infrastructure overlaps, said Andy Stone, city engineer and director of public works.
As OU’s campus has expanded over time, ownership of the roads has become so complex that many decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
“Just because a particular entity may own the road, there still may be utility lines that run under that road that have different ownership,” said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities. “So it’s not uncommon for the university to have a utility line that runs under a city street. … It’s also not unusual for the city to have lines that run under university streets or university property.”
For example, OU will handle the bill for repairs on their utility tunnels under city-owned Mulberry Street, which was allocated $2 million from university reserves after the Board of Trustees deemed its repair necessary at its March meeting.
In such cases, the city and university will regularly communicate in order to effectively maintain the street.
“(With) the utilities, we generally know who owns what and if it’s questionable… then my crews will work with university crews to fix damaged sections,” Stone said.
OU spends roughly $1 million to $2 million for roadway repair every year, which is funded through a biennial state appropriation. “Special projects” or unexpected circumstances can cause fluctuation, though, Wyatt said.
The city has various budgets related to road repair, Lucas said, but about $300,000 to $350,000 are spent on specific projects, and between $25,000 to $30,000 on filling in cracks and potholes. An exact annual amount was not readily available.
Maintenance work could include snow plowing, patching cracks or potholes and utility repairs.
The city owns and cares for the roads around College Green, which include Court Street, Park Place, Union Street and University Terrace.
The only other city road surrounded by university property is Richland Avenue.
All other major roads on OU’s campus, such as South Green Drive and West Green Drive, are owned and maintained by the university.
“Our town is definitely unique in the fact that Athens is approximately 35 square miles in size; the university is such a big component of the city,” Lucas said. “Outside of the university there are people, thousands of people, but it’s not a big city, so what happens on the university affects the whole.”
Such an intertwined system leaves many Athens roads lacking clear-cut possession.
Both University Terrace and Stewart Street shift ownership within campus grounds. University Terrace switches from city to university possession at the south end of Park Place, and Stewart Street switches ownership by Read and Washington halls on East Green.
South Shafer Street, on West Green, presents an uncommon situation between the intersections at Richland Avenue and Hospital Drive.
Due to an easement, or a right to use someone else’s land for a specified purpose, the university allows the city to take over all maintenance responsibilities despite holding ownership.
“It’s just a fact of life, so… both our staffs work together to repair things when needed,” Wyatt said.
Oftentimes communication can extend beyond the city government and university as well.
The Athens Police Department or Athens Fire Department are alerted when planned road closures might affect a large portion of residents, Lucas said.
Universities located in larger cities also have working relationships, but not to the degree that OU does with the city of Athens, Wyatt said.
“I have been told that the city of Athens and Ohio University generally have a better relationship than other cities with universities in them,” Stone said.
Payment and maintenance of a particular road typically corresponds with ownership, but on special occasions, such as in an emergency, the city and university will collaborate regardless of ownership.
Such a situation arose earlier this year when the city and university faced a snow-salt shortage. Both sides utilized shared stores to keep Athens’ streets clear.
“We are neighbors and we have to work together,” Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said. “The idea is to make it as easy as possible.”
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