Athens City Council passed an ordinance Monday allowing Mayor Steve Patterson to apply for and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for a grant of $2 million.
The grant will be used to construct a single lane roundabout at the intersection of State Route 682 and West Union Street, Councilman Peter Kotses, D-At Large, said.
Council also passed an ordinance authorizing the transfer of $100,000 from the transportation fund to the general fund.
An additional 1% of income taxes were allocated to the general fund as well. That additional 1% will come from the transportation assistance fund. Councilman Sam Crowl, D-3rd Ward, said funds are being transferred due to the city’s loss in revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These are monies that are right now not needed in the transportation fund, and they can help us in the budget crunch we are facing by being transferred into the general fund,” Crowl said.
A resolution to place the issue of renewing the existing income tax of 0.1% for 10 years on the Nov. 3 ballot was also passed.
Council also reappointed several positions on various boards and commissions. Cyrus Moore was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission; Alan Swank, Daniel Brown and Travis Gatling were reappointed to the Recreation Advisory Board; and Aaron Thomas was reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
