Athens summer proves to be a busy one

Summertime in Athens appears to be nonexistent to many students and professors as they leave town and head off for home. But the world does keep spinning, news keeps coming, and Athens was alive as ever during the past few months.Like many towns in the Midwest, the name of the game this summer was construction. The big project, which had been in the works for months through City Council, was the Oxbow Bridge and Richland Avenue improvements. Other major projects included the Safe Routes to School program, which completed work on South Lancaster St., Watt St., and Second Street in order to help students walk to class safely and easily.Other parts of the city such as Columbus Road and North Lancaster St.’s sidewalks were deemed in poor condition during the last City Council meeting on July 15. Residents were asked to help assess the sidewalk repair needed before construction began.“The city, as everyone knows, is in charge of the curbs and the sidewalks or the homeowners or the landowners, “Third Ward Rep. Michele Papai, said. We will be requesting citizen volunteers again to help us with that process.”City Council was also busy with granting the building license for The Overhang, a new restaurant and bar on North Court St. where the Blue Gator previously resided. The council had debated how far the upper deck of the building could hang over the sidewalk with the owners Bryan Wharton and Mark Kasler earlier in the spring.Athens Public Transit also is working to improve their routes by adding a new main connecting stop next to Baker University Center on West Mulberry St. Their standard rates were reduced from $1.50 to $1.00 and the elderly and disabilities fare from $0.75 to $0.50. The new route and fares begin on Aug. 26.As the year progresses the city looks to another city council election in November. All members are up for election but the only seat that is completely open is At-Large Elahu Gosney’s seat. All four of the candidates hoping to get Gosney’s At-Large position, Jennifer Cochran, Michael Bart, Ron Luce, and Michael McSteen will run for the Democratic Ticket.