At their weekly meeting, Athens City Council will discuss implementing the Essence of Athens program as well as making improvements to the West Union St. sidewalks.
Murals, brick inlays and landscaping are all integral parts of Athens city officials’ Essence of Athens Plan.
Athens City Council members will consider implementing elements of the plan, which was constructed from May 2013 to June 2014, at their weekly Monday night meeting at the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St.
The Essence of Athens plan is a way to promote the arts in Athens by incorporating artistic elements into everyday objects like bike racks, sidewalks and roundabouts.
Council will also consider improvements to sidewalks on West Union Street.
As the city retires one of its public transit buses, council will also further discuss the purchase of two additional buses.
Athens has been collaborating with Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Partnership on the purchase for the last few months, Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, said at last week’s council meeting.
Papai said the buses would cost a total of $131,325, but the city would only be accountable for about $26,000 of that amount.
“Do we want to hamstring ourselves with the total amount going into that?” Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said last week.
Wiehl proposed working out an agreement with HAPCAP to initially pay for the buses, with the city eventually reimbursing HAPCAP, Wiehl said.
The buses would not be ready to hit the streets for six months after their purchase.
Council members will also be discussing preparations for Ohio University’s International Student Union’s International Street Fair later this semester.
ISU hosts the fair to promote and nurture ties between OU and its international students. The fair showcases the various cultures of students attending OU.
The fair will take place in April on Court Street. The city will be presenting an ordinance to close Court Street for that day.
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