The Indy Bulletin Board: Athens County Public Meetings & Local News Roundup 1/16-1/20/2023

Local news roundup

Three employees of the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville — two corrections officers and a nurse — argue in an appellate brief that while it might have been possible to do more to save the life of detainee Jennifer Ohlinger in 2018, they weren’t “deliberately indifferent” under the law, and shouldn’t be held liable. A federal district judge in Columbus dismissed the lawsuit filed by Ohlinger’s daughter in September. (Logan Daily News)

Perennial on-again, off-again Nelsonville City Councilmember Greg Smith (currently off) has filed his latest lawsuit against the city, seeking copies of records he says will show former city manager Scott Frank and his father brandishing firearms. (Athens Messenger)

A new bakery, Alfonso’s Italian Kitchen & Bakery, has opened on Nelsonville’s public square. (Athens News)

Woodcock Nature Preserve in Lee Township is seeking new board members. (WNP)

The Athens Farmers Market has a new grant program for beginning farmers. (AFM)

Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson, the only countywide elected Republican, traded barbs with the Democratic Athens County Commission over cuts to her budget. (Athens Messenger)

Submit information about your home internet connection to help Buckeye Hills Regional Council advocate for better broadband in southeast Ohio. (BHRC)

Athens-area State Sen. Frank Hoagland is sponsoring a bill to legalize homemade moonshine. (Cleveland.com)

Ohio University was awarded $50,000 by the Appalachian Regional Commission to study how rural Appalachia can promote increased use of air mobility. (OU) Plus, an interview with a pilot who flies rural patients to access better healthcare. (Daily Yonder)

AEP and the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) announced that SOPEC will be AEP’s exclusive governmental electric aggregator for new communities in Ohio. (Press release)

Local history project Invisible Ground is releasing an album of music featured in the project’s podcast to support the effort. (Invisible Ground)

Read more: New Mount Zion virtual marker connects Athens’ Black history with its future

A fine art exhibit from the Women of Appalachia Project opened last Friday at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, where it will be on display until March 19. (Dairy Barn Arts Center)

Unlike his predecessor, Gov. Mike DeWine is “strongly considering” seeking federal money for an Amtrak expansion in Ohio, which would return passenger train service to Columbus for the first time since the 1970s. (Cleveland.com)

Read more: Athens Amtrak service a possibility, according to new agency maps

Large numbers of Ohio residents in low-income communities have suspended drivers’ licenses — which will likely make it even harder for them to vote with Ohio’s new strict voter ID law, according to a new report from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. The report identifies southeast Ohio as one of the non-urban areas where this is most likely to impact voters. A group of Ohio public interest organizations have already filed a lawsuit to prevent the law from taking effect. (Ohio Capital Journal, Ohio Capital Journal)

A bill signed by Gov. Mike DeWine could jeopardize funding for some affordable housing projects that also involve historic preservation, according to housing advocates. (WVXU)

Attorneys for two incarcerated men are arguing to the state supreme court that a law allowing judges to extend some prison sentences is unconstitutional. (AP)

Reproductive rights advocates say they will have a ballot referendum initiative to the attorney general’s office by February: the first step, after gathering signatures, in putting a proposal before voters. (Ohio Capital Journal)

The West Virginia-based Community Education Group is making funds available to LGBTQ health organizations in parts of rural Appalachia, including Appalachian Ohio, for education about prevention of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox). (Daily Yonder)

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Public meetings

Monday, 1/16:

5 p.m.: Athens County Veteran Commission has a regular biweekly meeting at the OhioMeansJobs – Athens County office, 510 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only.

6 p.m.: York Township Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the York Township Fire Department, 15255 Elm Rock Rd., Nelsonville. In-person only.

Tuesday, 1/17:

9:30 a.m.: Athens County Commission has a regular weekly meeting at the Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 2nd fl. annex, commissioners’ conference room), Athens, and over Zoom. Agenda

Indy context: The commissioners will hear a presentation about community reinvestment areas from Mollie Fitzgerald, executive director of the Athens County Economic Development Council.

5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart. In-person only. 

6 p.m.: Athens Township Zoning Commission has a regular monthly meeting at The Plains Public Library, 14 S. Plains Rd., The Plains. In-person only.

6 p.m.: Tri-County Career Center Board of Education has an annual organizational and a regular monthly board meeting at the Tri-County Career Center, rm. 108, 15676 SR 691, Nelsonville. In-person only. Agenda

7 p.m.: Athens City Council has a regular biweekly meeting at the Athens City Building, 3rd fl., 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and over livestream. Agenda 

Indy context: The council will consider new appointments by Mayor Steve Patterson to the city Recreation Advisory Board, which has had a somewhat testy relationship with his appointee to run the Arts, Parks & Recreation department that it advises, Katherine Ann Jordan.

7 p.m.: Sunday Creek Valley Water District Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Sunday Creek Valley Water District, 15945 Second St., Millfield. In-person only.

Wednesday, 1/18:

11 a.m.: Athens County Land Bank Board has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens County Records Center, 27 S. High St., Glouster, and over Google Meet. Agenda

1 p.m.: Athens County Port Authority Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Ohio University Innovation Center, unit 26, Athens. In-person only. Agenda

2:30 p.m.: Athens Pedestrian Accessibility Ad Hoc Committee has a meeting at the Athens City Building, 3rd fl., 8 E. Washington St., Athens. In-person only.

3 p.m.: Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has a regular monthly board meeting at the Prisley-Wells Commissioner Building, 10 Hope Dr., Athens. In-person only.

4:30 p.m.: Athens County Public Libraries Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the Nelsonville Public Library, large meeting rm., 95 W. Washington St., Nelsonville. In-person only. Agenda

5:30 p.m.: Athens City Commission on Disabilities has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens Community Center, conference rm., 701 E. State St., Athens, and over Zoom by request for accommodations. Agenda

6 p.m.: Parade of the Hills Committee has a regular monthly meeting at Nelsonville Homes, community rm., 900 E. Canal St., Nelsonville. In-person only.

6 p.m.: Albany Board of Zoning Appeals has a regular monthly meeting at Albany Village Hall, 5153 Alton St., Albany. In-person only.

6:30 p.m.: Albany Village Council has a regular biweekly meeting at Albany Village Hall, 5153 Alton St., Albany. In-person only. 

Indy context: The council will hold a hearing on the rezoning of 49 acres near the OU airport in the southern part of the village to be developed into the Idyllic Acres business park. The project was approved by the village Planning Commission in December in a 4-1 vote. The Athens County Commission awarded the village over $1 million in ARPA funds in October for an extension of its sewer system to the planned industrial park.

7 p.m.: Albany Independent Agricultural Society has a regular monthly meeting at the Albany Fairgrounds, 5120 Washington Rd., Albany. In-person only. 

Thursday, 1/19:

9:30 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees has a regular quarterly meeting at Walter Hall, rm. 104, 25 S. Green Dr., Athens, and over Teams. Agenda 

Indy context: Trustees will consider whether to transfer ownership of The Ridges to a to-be-created separate governmental entity called a New Community Authority to oversee its planned mixed-use development. 

12 p.m.: Athens Planning Commission has a regular biweekly meeting at the Athens City Building, 3rd fl., 8 E. Washington St., Athens, or over livestream. Agenda

Indy context: The commission will discuss zoning change recommendations from the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. These include everything from reducing the minimum lot size, to encouraging “more compact” housing like University Estates, to expanding business zones along West Union Street, to reducing parking maximum requirements in some areas.

4 p.m.: Athens Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District, 69 S. Plains Rd., The Plains, and over Zoom.

5 p.m.: Athens-Hocking Recycling Center Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center, 5991 Industrial Park Rd., Athens. In-person only.

5:30 p.m.: Athens Recreation Advisory Board has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens City Building, 3rd fl., 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and over livestream. Agenda

6 p.m.: Dover Township Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the Dover Township Garage, 15947 Main St., Millfield. In-person only.

6 p.m.: Nelsonville Dog Park Board has a meeting at the Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Dr., Nelsonville. In-person only.

Friday, 1/20:

9 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees has a regular quarterly meeting at Walter Hall, rm. 104, 25 S. Green Dr., Athens, and over Teams. Agenda