Athens City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will provide costs for the design of the new city pool.
The City of Athens is one step closer to potentially having a new city pool after Monday night's Athens City Council meeting.
Council approved an ordinance unanimously authorizing the use of $500,000 for design and engineering of the planned city pool at the meeting. The legislation was previously amended to say “swimming pool options" instead of “outdoor municipal swimming pool" to allow for the option of constructing an indoor pool.
“This is yet another milestone in our pool extravaganza adventure,” councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, said. “This will start the process at looking at designs for the pool.”
An ordinance authorizing the city to begin accepting bids for the Between the Bridges Lighting Project also was passed at the meeting.
The project, proposed by councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, will include improving sidewalk lighting on Richland Avenue for safety and aesthetic purposes. It will cost an estimated $595,000.
“We have some contractors who are ready to bid on the project, and we’d like to get it going,” Papai said. “As our experience has been in the last few years, it’s better to bid with contractors earlier in the season rather than later.”
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson also announced at the meeting that the city of Athens has received the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
“It’s an award from the state of Ohio for being a city that works well with National Guard and reserve members who work for the city,” Patterson said. “It is a very high state honor.”
A number of street closures also were approved by council at the meeting.
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Council approved street closures for three "cruise-ins" happening on Court Street on June 3 and Aug. 12, and East Union Street on Sept. 23. The cruise-ins are events where residents are encouraged to bring their antique cars to show off to the public.
Street closures were approved for Bounty on the Bricks, a fundraiser on Aug. 13 to benefit the Southeastern Ohio Food Bank on Court Street between Union Street and Washington Street.
Council also amended a previously-tabled ordinance about the purchase of two new salt trucks.
The original ordinance, which estimated the cost of the new trucks to total $100,000, will be changed, as the cost has increased to $140,000.
Patterson said the amendment and cost increase was necessary and was to make sure the city will be equipping the trucks with all the right features needed to work properly.
“These are sad, sad trucks,” Patterson said. “They got us through this winter, but they are going to be replaced as soon as possible.”
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