Athens City Council discusses firearm disposal and uptown improvement Monday night
During a committee meeting Monday night, Athens City Council discussed the disposal of confiscated firearms by the police, financial appropriations and uptown improvement ventures.
City council holds committee meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month. During these meetings, the committees put forward topics of discussion that may eventually turn into ordinances for their regular meetings. Monday’s meeting lasted only a half-hour, with three committees taking the floor for a brief period.
The City and Safety Services Committee discussed the issues of the disposal of firearms and ammunition confiscated by the Athens Police Department (APD).
The disposal of confiscated firearms and ammunition is a standard practice by the city, but it does not happen often, Service Safety Director Andy Stone explained. The weapons that will be disposed of had been seized from various infractions over time. The firearms are traded with the city’s supplier for supplies and ammunition, Vance Outdoors, for store credit. However, this trade must be approved by the council.
Stone speculated that this trade-in involved about 40 weapons and hoped to receive around $15,000 in store credit. However, that number was merely “shooting from the hip, no pun intended,” Stone said, promising members of the council to appraise some of the items to ensure that the city receives the most accurate compensation for the weapons they are discarding. The last time a trade-in like this occurred was around 2017, according to Mayor Steven Patterson.
The Finance and Personnel Committee took the floor next, detailing requests for the appropriation of city funds. The appropriation requests were as follows:
$10,000 for the Law Director to receive new flooring in her office. Patterson assured any listeners that the re-flooring of the Law Director’s office was a “much-needed renovation.”
$14,000 to APD for medical expenses.
$81,000 to the Athens Fire Department (AFD), which is both a retention grant that AFD received, as well as a retirement payout. This money was awarded by the state and is merely being appropriated. Patterson added that the police department received a similar grant previously.
$1,500 to the Cemetery Fund for supplies and services, along with administrative fees.
$100 for a life insurance payment in the personnel line in the Cemetery Fund.
$10,000 for the DUI Court Fund, which is for a position realignment connected to a grant the court previously received.
The final committee meeting of the evening was the Transportation Committee, who provided plans for upcoming uptown improvement. The project involved streetscape improvements and construction on Washington, State and Mill Streets, along with the crossing of Court Street and Union Street. The city hoped to improve the accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for the intersection of Court Street and Union Street, though they have faced challenges with funding and conflict with the state of Ohio concerning the historic preservation of the brick streets.
“The intersection of Court and Union is really a critical piece of infrastructure when it comes to ADA accessibility,” Patterson said.
Patterson promised more information to come on the topic of transitioning such a heavily used pedestrian intersection to improve accessibility.
According to Patterson, the improvement project would give the streets in question the same look and feel as the block of West Union Street between Court Street and Congress Street. The city also received a grant to contribute to the construction.
The next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 5, to accommodate the Labor Day holiday.
