Neighbors urge Athens council to act on alleged sober-house problems at 51 Madison Avenue
January 21, 2026 | Athens City Council, Athens , Athens County, Ohio
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Several neighbors used public comment on Jan. 20 to urge Athens City Council to investigate and take local action concerning a sober house at 51 Madison Avenue.
Jack Stauffer, who identified himself as living on Elmwood, said Scioto County now has many sober houses and alleged that 51 Madison — owned by Eric and Ali Lee and leased to a company from Columbus — was operating in violation of local norms. "According to the Athens police report, there are 8 people living in that house," Stauffer said, and he recounted multiple police responses. He asked the mayor, the safety service director, the city attorney, the police chief and council to hold a well-advertised town hall with representatives of the operator and state behavioral health officials.
Paul Mullins, who said his backyard borders 51 Madison, described multiple police visits, an incident when a large bonfire was lit during a drought and concerns about relapse and community safety. "If our city council and city officials don't protect our community, Columbus will continue to populate Athens with more sober houses," Mullins said, and he asked the city attorney to search for legal options to regain local oversight.
Speakers said they had raised the issue with code enforcement, the safety service director and the mayor; according to comments, officials indicated they would look into the situation but no formal action or timeline was announced during the meeting. Council did not take immediate action on the record beyond accepting the comments and offering to follow up.
The comments raise questions about the interaction between state regulations and local code enforcement for recovery residences and the capacity of city staff to monitor occupancy and compliance. Residents asked for clearer oversight and for a public forum that would include the operator and state representatives; council members and the mayor acknowledged receipt of a written letter and invited the speaker to share it for follow-up.
Jack Stauffer, who identified himself as living on Elmwood, said Scioto County now has many sober houses and alleged that 51 Madison — owned by Eric and Ali Lee and leased to a company from Columbus — was operating in violation of local norms. "According to the Athens police report, there are 8 people living in that house," Stauffer said, and he recounted multiple police responses. He asked the mayor, the safety service director, the city attorney, the police chief and council to hold a well-advertised town hall with representatives of the operator and state behavioral health officials.
Paul Mullins, who said his backyard borders 51 Madison, described multiple police visits, an incident when a large bonfire was lit during a drought and concerns about relapse and community safety. "If our city council and city officials don't protect our community, Columbus will continue to populate Athens with more sober houses," Mullins said, and he asked the city attorney to search for legal options to regain local oversight.
Speakers said they had raised the issue with code enforcement, the safety service director and the mayor; according to comments, officials indicated they would look into the situation but no formal action or timeline was announced during the meeting. Council did not take immediate action on the record beyond accepting the comments and offering to follow up.
The comments raise questions about the interaction between state regulations and local code enforcement for recovery residences and the capacity of city staff to monitor occupancy and compliance. Residents asked for clearer oversight and for a public forum that would include the operator and state representatives; council members and the mayor acknowledged receipt of a written letter and invited the speaker to share it for follow-up.
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