Pool still an issue after City Council starts up again

Athens City Council met for the first time Tuesday after returning from their August recess to discuss plans for the remainder of August and October.Opening communications by President Christine Knisely announced plans for a committee meeting Sept. 28 to continue discussion on the city pool, a hot button issue with many of Athen’s residences.Council members took the time to address the many letters of concern sent to them about the direction of the pool, a strictly outside facility reflecting more of a water park than a pool. Councilman Steve Patterson claimed to receive approximately 11 letters.Councilman Kent Butler, who received many letters of the same tone, advised council members to take their time and work out all the angles before coming to a final decision.“We’re out there. We are listening,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Cochran. “It’s a tough situation. We’re not going to be able to please everybody, but we are going to do our best.”Attention then shifted to the city’s plan for Halloween, specifically an ordinance that, if approved, would allow the closing of a portion of Court Street on Monday, Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a trick or treat hosted by the Athens Uptown Business Association.Introduced by Councilwoman Michele Papai, the ordinance is a change from the previous year. Trick-or-treating typically takes place on Monday after Halloween, but the proposed change was an attempt to condense the Halloween festivities into a single weekend.Barbara Stout, the owner of Athens Underground, brought up an area of concern to the council. Stout said she uses Halloween to increase monthly sales, and she’s afraid they’ll have to close for the day and suffer from the loss of profit.“I have no choice but to close my business,” Stout said. “I am a Halloween dependent business. The Monday before Halloween, traditionally, I will make as much money as I made the entire month of June.”Members voted to adopt the ordinance agreeing to discuss and vote on the ordinance at the next meeting.