Athens City Council met Monday evening to discuss infrastructure, funding and ordinances.
Council President Micah McCarey called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., and the council approved minutes from the previous meeting.
Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, addressed an email council members received from the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia, highlighting the completion of Baileys Trail System.
“First of all, the best part is Baileys Trail is complete,” Swank said. “Eighty-eight miles are complete, and now that we’re moving into spring, hopefully those who enjoyed that activity and others who got off that trail and enjoy it will remind the public that about $300,000 from the city of Athens was put forward to help in financing this project over the years.”
Councilmembers then shared brief updates before moving to elected officials’ communications.
Mayor Steve Patterson discussed upcoming infrastructure work, including a project to relocate utility lines underground in the Uptown area. He said the project is part of an ongoing effort to improve safety and aesthetics.
“If you’ve not looked up at the sky when you’re in the Uptown area, look up and you’re going to see a lot of utility lines overhead,” Patterson said. “This is a project that is going to relocate them underground, which requires a significant amount of work that is ongoing. The project will relocate electric and telecom utilities underground and complete related infrastructure improvements.”
Patterson said construction might temporarily disrupt sidewalks and streetscapes, but access to businesses and residences will be maintained.
Council then moved to ordinances for a third reading. Most passed with little discussion, except Ordinance 0-28-26.
The ordinance grants a special right-of-use permit to Mount Zion Baptist Church, 32 W. Carpenter St., to place an elevator vestibule in the city’s right-of-way along North Congress Street.
“This vestibule will allow two things to happen,” Swank said. “One for Mount Zion Baptist Church to put in an elevator, making the building ADA-compliant and accessible to all. Additionally, the vestibule will protect that elevator from the elements, so that the elevator will be operable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year or whenever the building is open.”
The ordinance was passed along with the others on third reading.
Council then introduced Ordinance 0-30-26 on first reading, which would authorize the mayor to enter into a one-year agreement with Sunday Creek Horizons, a consulting firm the city has worked with in recent years.
“They will apply for grants, they will administer grants, they will monitor grants,” Swank said. “They will also do lobbying on behalf of the city for infrastructure products and the like.”
The contract would cost the city $10,000 per month, which Swank said is less than the cost of a full-time city employee with benefits.
The ordinance was advanced along with other first-reading legislation.
Council also read a resolution before entering executive session. The meeting was adjourned shortly after.
