Athens City Council wants to purchase vinyl wraps to cover uptown traffic switchboards.
In an effort to make Athens more unique, Athens City Council members discussed moving forward with elements of their Essence of Athens project at their Monday night meeting.
Councilman Steve Patterson, D-at large, proposed an ordinance that would appropriate $11,000 to purchasing vinyl wraps that would cover 10 Uptown traffic switch boxes.
The wraps, costing the city $475 each, are part of the larger Essence of Athens Project, which is the “template for enhancing our art throughout our community,” Patterson said.
Not only will the wraps add an artistic element to the otherwise silver boxes, Patterson said they could also be a potential way to prevent graffiti Uptown.
“Hopefully, these boxes are so attractive that vandals go ‘Oh, I don’t want to mess with that,’ ” Patterson said, adding that the vinyl surfaces could be scrubbed clean if vandalized.
Patterson said the design of the wrap will be up to the community.
Council will award the project’s designing artist $500.
“Artists can put forward their designs…for the boxes themselves,” Patterson said.
Funding for the project will come from the Athens Enhancement Fund, Mayor Paul Wiehl said.
“The whole purpose (for the fund) is for academic advancement and cultural advancement,” Wiehl said.
Wiehl said that fund lends itself well to the Essence of Athens program.
Council members also discussed proposed improvements to sidewalks on the lower end of West Union Street, from Depot to Shafer Street.
Patterson said a lot of the sidewalks “are in bad shape” and need replacement.
Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, said that after sending out bids to business owners on the street — who would be responsible for paying for a part of the project’s total expense — the city received no protest.
“They must have agreed with the way their sidewalks will be improved,” Papai said.
The improvements are part of the West Union Street Infrastructure Project, which installed a roundabout at the intersection of Smith and West Union streets last summer.
The project cost about $1.3 million.
Patterson said council members hope to incorporate more elements from the Essence of Athens project into the sidewalk improvements as well. The legislative body has not yet estimated a cost for the sidewalk improvements.
“We want to have a brand new poured sidewalk with random Athens Blocks placed in them,” Patterson said.
Athens Blocks are the bricks incorporated into Uptown streets.
“We know we have the money in that account,” Patterson said. “Now’s the time to start using it.”
@emilybohatch
eb346012@ohio.edu
