Athens City Council will hold a public hearing on bed-and-breakfasts to hear residents' opinions before drafting legislation that could redefine what a bed-and-breakfast is in the city of Athens.
Athens City Council will be hosting another public hearing this week at its Monday night meeting.
The hearing will focus on bed-and-breakfasts in Athens. Any resident who wish to speak are able to have their opinion heard before council drafts legislation that could effect the current bed and breakfasts in the city.
The City Planning Commission recommended redefining the term "bed-and-breakfast" in the city's code.
Commission member Nancy Bain spoke at the Oct. 12 city council meeting in support of new legislation.
Bain expressed concerns with specifically Airbnb, a travel website and app that allows people to find or host a room for others to use when visiting an area. Her main concern was the potential lack of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the homes of Airbnb users, she said.
“We have to protect the people that come to town,” Bain said at the meeting.
Council will vote Monday on an ordinance for third reading that would allow the city administration to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to paint and repair a bridge on state route 682.
Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, proposed the legislation.
"For many of you who travel within our city ... you know that it's had some issues," Papai said at the Nov. 9 council meeting. "They're coming forward and going to do some major repairs on that bridge."
Service-Safety Director Paula Horan-Moseley said the city will not have to contribute any money for the project because the Ohio Department of Transportation will cover the costs.
"It's a little unusual that it's being paid for fully," Horan-Moseley said.
City council will also have a second reading of a resolution approving the issuance of bonds to LEDIC Realty, a company based in Montgomery, Alabama, to purchase the Athens Garden Apartments on West State Street.
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Kea Calame, a representative from LEDIC Realty, spoke at last week's public hearing on multifamily housing revenue bonds. Calame said $150,000 worth of improvements would be made to the property after acquisition.
The repairs would include upgrades to the property's parking lot, as well as new windows, counter tops and cabinets for the apartments units, she said.
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