Tonight’s Athens City Council meeting will be a regular session during which all ordinances will be up for first reading. As a result, no new legislation will be passed this evening, although discussion will begin on a few topics.
According to Councilman Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward, several citizens are planning on speaking to council at the session. They will be discussing the resolution Risner has proposed that would speak out against the first amendment rights of corporations. These citizens, along with Risner and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, have grown disgruntled about the ability of corporations to give unlimited funding to political campaigns. This is ruining the political system, Risner said.
The citizens will speak at the tail end of the night after council has discussed all ordinances for first reading. The resolution is to be voted on during the Feb. 6 council meeting.
Council will set in motion the reading process for fifteen new ordinances. The list includes an ordinance to improve the infrastructure of North Court Street, the closing of Court Street on May 19 of this year, and the construction of the Columbus Circle Drive Access Road.
