Athens City Council adopts package of third‑reading ordinances; appointments and resolutions approved

Athens City Council on April 6 unanimously approved a group of third‑reading ordinances addressing water infrastructure, annexation and several land‑use actions and permits.

The council adopted Ordinance 09‑26 authorizing the service safety director to solicit bids and enter contracts for the North Hill Water Project, and passed ordinances approving the petition to annex approximately 1.175 acres owned by White Family Athens Property LLC (Ordinance 19‑26) and designating zoning for that parcel. Council also approved rezoning 3.4773 acres on Derry Lane from educational (EI) to high‑density residential (R3) and enacted Ordinance 22‑26 creating a perpetual easement and modifying ingress/egress for the University Estates water tower with Atlas Ventures LLC.

Other measures approved included an amendment authorizing the annual purchase of water softening salt (Ordinance 23‑26), an extension of city water service and installation of a water tap beyond city limits to a Rock Rifle Road address under Ohio Revised Code provisions (Ordinance 27‑26), and a special right‑of‑way permit allowing Mount Zion Baptist Church to install an elevator vestibule at 32 West Carpenter Street to improve ADA accessibility (Ordinance 28‑26). All third‑reading ordinances were adopted on voice votes with no recorded opposition.

Council also adopted Resolution 05‑26 reappointing Randy Gonzalez and Jim Kaufman to the Ridg's New Community Authority board of trustees and confirmed appointments including Rick Wasserman to the rental inspection process subcommittee, Molly Fitzgerald to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Amish Hassan Ascri to the Community Relations Commission; all were approved unanimously.

Items read for first consideration included Ordinance 29‑26 to convey a surplus parcel on Hudson Avenue to Community Building Partners LLC in support of a Welcome Home Ohio project, Ordinance 30‑26 renewing a one‑year contract with consulting firm Sunday Creek Horizons, and Ordinance 32‑26 authorizing electric vehicle charger installations funded through a SOPC grant on several city properties. Council set several other first readings and discussed scheduling and committee matters. The meeting moved into executive session later in the evening to discuss pending litigation.

Votes at a glance (third‑reading items approved): Ordinances 09‑26, 19‑26, 20/21‑26 (zoning actions), 22‑26, 23‑26, 27‑26, 28‑26; Resolution 05‑26 (reappointments).