The City and Safety Services Committee discussed its annual report on the Commission on Disabilities, giving an update on the overall commission.
There are currently 11 members holding monthly meetings, acting as a liaison between members of the community and local government.
Some highlights are the work with the Council for improvement to make uptown Athens more accessible and ABC matching grants to improve accessibility not funded.
City and Safety Services also discussed an amendment to increase the expenditure for the West State Street restroom facility project and for the tennis and pickleball courts. The increase to the courts would be for necessary repairs and iron oxidation bleeding through the asphalt surface.
Councilmember Alan Swank, 4th ward, expressed concern about the asphalt being laid with the new contractor. The previous underlayer of asphalt contained a higher iron content, causing it to bleed through the courts.
Swank put in the extra effort to document the visuals shown and for the understanding of the iron used in the asphalt.
“These courts have only been there less than a year,” Swank said. “... As we continue to expand our recreational opportunities and other asphalt things in the city, this might be OK out in a street. But on a surface where people are playing, it causes some real problems.”
Planning and Development discussed affordable housing and economic development with David Funk, the founder of Capstone Properties. Funk wanted to focus on the low-income housing tax credit, LIHTC, projects and provide perspective on them. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency, OHFA, allocates LIHTCs to Ohio developers.
Funk called for a conversation on what could be done to get a support partnership to keep projects, jobs and income local. Funk said if done right, there are enough resources locally to create an endowment fund for new income.
Mayor Steve Patterson believes there is a real opportunity after meeting with the Athens County Foundation Alumni Board to discuss affordable housing and housing in the city of Athens. Patterson said this would be not only workforce housing but also housing for seniors under LIHTC.
“As long as you can do either a family project or a senior project,” Funk said. “Once you have that under your belt you can do any (type of project).”
Funk said he would be willing to be the guinea pig for the first project but only with community support. He also said the idea would be to turn over to others for future projects.
Swank asked a rhetorical question, “What if?” to Funk, asking if the Athens Foundation chose to coordinate the effort, local trade building folks bought in, the Affordable Housing Commission signed off, Buckeye Hills Regional Council all bought in as firm and committed partners, could Funk still participate in the 2025 funding year or if it would be put off to 2026.
“We could participate,” Funk said. “...This will be a losing proposition for Capstone. (I’m) only interested in doing this if it creates a model, (or) creates something that has legs for someone to pick up the next one and do future projects.”
Other items discussed in the meeting were upgrading the East State Street signals. If approved, the signaling will help the flow of traffic and the request for additional funding for the addition of an uninterruptable power supply, making it safer long-term. The smoothing of traffic signals would be a good leap forward for Athens to save the amount of carbon emissions from idling vehicles.
