Mayor Patterson resigns from ORCA board as Bailey's Trail reaches 88 miles

Mayor Patterson told Athens City Council on April 6 that he resigned his board role and presidential position with the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA), citing disagreements with the organization's executive director and invoking city ordinance O‑42‑19 as authority for withdrawal.

The mayor framed the decision while also reiterating the city’s support for local outdoor recreation opportunities. ‘‘I made the decision to terminate my membership, my, um, boardship and presidential role with the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia,’’ he said during communications.

Council members had earlier reported that the Bailey’s Trail is complete. Member Swink said, ‘‘88 miles are complete,’’ and noted that the city of Athens contributed roughly $300,000 over several years to support trail construction. Councilors discussed pursuing local outdoor recreation assets such as river trails and improvements to nearby parks.

The mayor described ORCA as an early regional consortium that included county and local partners and said his resignation followed ‘‘some disagreements’’ with the executive director. The transcript does not record any response from an ORCA representative during the meeting.

Council did not take any further formal action on ORCA membership at the meeting; the mayor referenced Ordinance O‑42‑19 (dated May 6, 2019) as the city code provision that provides mayoral authority to withdraw from a council of governments.