Ohio University has more access to improvement funding and could more adequately repair Jefferson Hill if the city transfers control of the pedestrian walkway to the school, Athens Mayor Ric Abel said at a press conference yesterday.
City Council might vote on the proposed transfer of control, which Abel recommended, as early as October, he said, but added the city wants rights to maintain utilities in that area if OU takes over the property. City Council is evaluating legislation to complete the transfer, but two more readings of the legislation are required before a vote.
Because capital improvements grants to the school likely would bring in more money than a state request for grant money to improve the road, the school could better repair the damaged hill, Abel said. Other area roads rank higher in the city's priorities for repairs because only pedestrians, not cars, use Jeff Hill, he said.
Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward, said she sees no need for the city to completely hand over the property if only repairs are needed, adding that her main concerns are a decrease in the value of nearby property and the city maintaining control of the water and sewer lines under the hill.
If it's just improving the sidewalk
I'm all for it she said.
Bain said she thinks the proposal will pass as long as council members get answers to any questions they have about the university's use of the property and the effects of the transfer on properties surrounding Jeff Hill.
But councilman Paul Wiehl, D-1st Ward, said he is against the transfer because he feels any improvements made by the university would not be worth the transfer of ownership. They have not acted as a good neighbor he said, adding that details of the university's proposed improvements or changes are sketchy.
It looks ugly? Well
that's ok
he said. Every tapestry has its flaws.
Under the proposed legislation in City Council, the school would gain ownership of the property while the city would have easements, or rights, to work on the water and sewer pipes underneath.
Wiehl would prefer instead that the city retain possession of Jefferson Hill and allow the university easements to repair or update it.
He said he disapproves of the current proposal because OU is taking educational dollars and turning it into a pretty road. But he added, I don't think I have enough votes to stop it. I'm just making noise.
In other business, Athens police Capt. Tom Pyle highlighted problems the city has noticed during the first week of classes.
Pyle identified three main problems and said the department's daytime, evening and midnight shifts each would focus on one of the problems during the next month.
Daytime officers specifically will look for drivers passing stopped school buses, especially on East State Street, a problem that has become obvious since local schools started, Pyle said.
Officers on the evening shift will watch for people driving faster than the 25 mph speed limit on East State Street between the Uptown area and Wal-Mart, where the high quantity of traffic makes speeders more of a danger, he said.
The midnight shift, including officers on foot patrol, will focus on anyone inhibiting the flow of traffic by jaywalking on Court Street, a problem that especially has been obvious with people walking in late evening. Pedestrians can cross pretty much anywhere on Court Street as long as they don't impede traffic, he said.
Officers on all shifts also will pay more attention to bicyclists riding on city sidewalks -which is illegal according to city ordinances -and for bikes chained to parking meters rather than the racks provided by the city throughout town.
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Jefferson Hill, pictured here, might be transferred from Athens city control to Ohio University in order to make repairs.
