A decade of legislative action by the Athens City Council

Photo via The New Political

Athens City Council is the legislative body for Athens and consists of seven active Council seats, all playing an integral part in shaping Athens’ development. Throughout the past decade, the Council has exemplified proactive commitment to the Athens community and a wide array of resolutions have been passed. From their website’s publishing of resolutions from 2011 to present day, the Council has addressed topics like labor relations, fiscal policies, environmental concerns and community standards.

In 2011, the Council passed a resolution to replace the sidewalk on Mill Street after it became a large infrastructural issue. Mill Street is a very active part of Ohio University’s campus, and the Council recognized this volume of traffic, and decided the sidewalk condition was an emergency. They allocated urgent funding needed to complete the construction project to make it safe and accessible for students and community members. They continued to address the needs of the community throughout 2011 as the Council voiced their support for the collective bargaining rights of Ohio’s workers in rejecting Senate Bill 5. In doing so, they supported the working class through reinforcing their commitment to workplace protections and fair wages across the state through recognition of collective bargaining’s benefits. Additionally, a third resolution passed in 2011 pertains to concerns over the potential effects of drilling on Athens’ environmental conditions. Hydraulic fracturing is capable of contaminating the water supply of the entire area, potentially harming individuals and their health. It also emphasized the preservation of air quality and public health as both may be impacted by pollutants of hydraulic fracturing.

These important efforts seem to be consistent over time as the Council continues to pass notable resolutions. In 2014, they passed a resolution advocating for an increase in Ohio’s oil and gas severance tax as they decided that citizens are insufficiently paid for resource extraction under House Bill 375. It calls attention to the bill’s lack of accountability for transportation and waste disposal costs, reduction of regulatory funding, and that the tax rate in the bill is substantially lower than in nearby major oil-producing states. In 2017, the Council voted in favor of opposing the proposed State of Ohio Governor’s budget. The budget argued for centralized collection of municipal net profit taxes; the Council felt it would have resulted in a loss of funding for welfare and economic development efforts within Ohio, as well as pose a threat to equitable taxation and taxpayer assistance. Finally, in 2020, a resolution to safeguard electoral processes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, Athens City Council addressed a variety of issues across the political spectrum in relation to human rights, Athens municipality, and historical acclamation. They called for a ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, condemning the Israeli government for violating international law and opposing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. They fortified Athens’ dedication to justice, peace, and human rights for all people. Another resolution was passed to place a city income tax increase on the ballot for the primary election on May 6, 2025. This proposal would raise the Athens City Income Tax rate by 0.30%, from 1.95% to 2.25% annually, to yield profits for services such as the police and fire departments, civic operations, capital improvements and transportation. An acknowledgment of respect for the Indigenous history of Athens’ land was another resolution passed. It affirmed the commitment to include land acknowledgments in City Council meetings and the resolution itself encompassed input from tribal representatives.

Now in 2025, all council seats currently held by Sam Crowl, Debbie Walker, Solveig Spjeldnes, Jeff Risner, Michael Wood, Alan Swank, Beth Clodfelter, Jessica Thomas will expire. Of the seven, ward representatives Spjeldnes and Risner, along with Council President Crowl, are not seeking reelection. Spjeldnes is deciding to step down as she always planned to only serve two terms. She wishes to pursue professional opportunities to deal with housing issues, but is open to guiding other Democrats who may wish to run for Council in the future. Risner has been serving on council since 2011 and has enjoyed his time serving Athens. He has simply decided that he would like a change in his career path. Lastly, Crowle stated that the final indignity of his decision to leave was that his role as Council President became onerous as he felt more weighed down than fulfilled by his contributions to the community. Following the primaries on May 6, 2025, the final election results of who will take office will be confirmed through the general election which is taking place on November 4, 2025. As all three of these members have been fundamental in resolutions passed and progress made, their departure allows for non-incumbent seats to change the trajectory of Council in the coming years.

Over the past 13 years, Athens City Council has continuously evolved to address the city’s shifting priorities. They have demonstrated a commitment to the community through their balancing of budget discipline, social activism and policy revision necessary to shape a more adaptable and enterprising Athens.

The article was published in TNP’s Spring 2025 Print edition.