Athens County public meetings in 2023
5 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Disabilities Commission Outreach & Communications Committee
The Outreach & Communications Committee approved the August 8, 2023 meeting minutes with a unanimous vote. Members reviewed six Athena Award nominations, ranked them, and will forward the top nominee to the Commission for final approval. The meeting was then adjourned unanimously.
- Approved August 8, 2023 minutes (unanimous)
- Adjourned meeting (unanimous)
Historic Preservation Commission
The Commission approved the August meeting minutes and expressed no objection to a modified design for uptown crosswalks, which will now be smooth grey concrete with painted stripes. Members discussed updates to a 2020 brochure and proposed historic district expansion maps. The Commission also identified five structures as Historic Landmarks outside the designated historic district.
- Approved August meeting minutes
- No objection expressed to modified uptown crosswalk design (smooth grey concrete with painted stripes)
- Identified Stewart-MacDonald Building as Historic Landmark
- Identified Seaman’s Grocery Store as Historic Landmark
- Identified Mount Zion Baptist Church as Historic Landmark
- Identified Athens Middle School as Historic Landmark
- Identified Christ Lutheran Church as Historic Landmark
City Council
The City & Safety Services Committee and Committee of the Whole discussed amending fire control penalties and a broad list of 2024 fee increases. No final votes were recorded; items were referred to upcoming City Council agendas for formal action.
- Proposed increasing penalties for interference with fire scenes and safety official orders
- Proposed joining an Ohio Organized Crime investigations Task Force
- Discussed 2024 fee increases for water, sewer, and administrative services
- Proposed new fire inspection fees for buildings over 10,000 square feet
- Proposed escalating fees for repeat garbage and sanitation violations
- Tabled decision on parking fee increases pending automated system installation
Disabilities Commission Accessibility & Advocacy Committee
The committee reviewed several city accessibility projects and identified specific areas of unsafe sidewalks and poor crosswalk timing to be added to the city matrix. The group also noted the creation of a new Pedestrian Accessibility and Bicycle Task Force by City Council.
- Approved August Accessibility meeting minutes (unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission voted to approve Case #23-02 for the University Estates Planned Unit Development. Despite reports that the project is currently not financially viable for the developer, the commission recommended the case move forward to City Council.
- Approved August 3, 2023 minutes (5-0)
- Approved Case #23-02 University Estates P.U.D. affordable housing development (5-0)