The annexation of 39 acres of unincorporated land on the south side of U.S. Highway 50 was the main point of yesterday's Athens County Commissioners meeting.
Village of Albany Solicitor Scott Robe has a petition to annex the land, which belongs to Athens County but does not fall under the jurisdiction of any cities or villages. At least 51 percent of the land's residents must sign the petition to authorize the annexation.
Albany would provide police patrol, street maintenance, and water and sewer service to the land. The county currently provides these services.
Southeast Ohio Medical Systems has a station in the proposed annexed land, which gave the commissioners the option of signing the petition, but they declined.
"We just felt it was better not to (sign) since we would be acting on the annexation," Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan said.
Sullivan said he anticipated Robe submitting the petition within a month. The commissioners then would have 60 days to act on the petition. The annexation should be a good for Albany, he said.
In other commissioners news:
The Commissioners signed a new union contract with the Athens County Department of Jobs and Family Services. The new contract will last for three years and gives the departing employees a 2 percent pay increase.
Continuing business from last week, the commissioners officially awarded a 120-day contract to Joe Pidcock Glass Co. to replace the windows in the American Legion Hall in Nelsonville. The contract is worth $29,900.
In law enforcement news, the commissioners appropriated $17,000 to the Athens County Fire Department for 30 new radios.
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Jeffrey Fitzwater
