The Indy Bulletin Board: Athens County Public Meetings & Local News Roundup 2/13-18/2023

Local news roundup

The Athens County Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Animal Response Team seeks volunteers to help keep families and pets together when bad things happen. (Athens Messenger) 

Eight students in the Business Ownership Program at Tri-County Career Center and High School recently placed in competitions through Business Professionals of America. (360 Tri-County)  

Trimble Local School District is seeking contractors to build a new 5,000-square foot, $2 million health and fitness facility at Trimble High School. It will be funded with ARPA federal funds. (Athens Messenger)

Former Athens City Council member Beth Clodfelter and Brenen’s Coffee Cafe owner Jessica Thomas will run for at-large City Council seats, alongside current council member Micah McCarey. In the Uptown 3rd Ward, where Sam Crowl is retiring, Athens High School soccer coach Jason Schroer and Republic of Athens Records owner Michael Wood are running. City Council president Christine Knisley is also retiring. (Athens Messenger) [Ed. note: This previously incorrectly read that Clodfelter and Thomas are challenging McCarey for one at-large seat; in fact, all three at-large seats are up for election. We regret the error.]

Columbus police killed Bret Andrews, an Athens man, in the department’s second shooting in the space of a week. Few details have been released regarding why Andrews was killed, but police, and media, were quick to note his criminal history. (The Columbus Dispatch)

Former Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood was indicted on multiple charges of fraud and misusing public funds, after a report from the Ohio Auditor’s office found irregularities. Wood has denied all wrongdoing. (WTAP, WCHS)

Indy Context: Wood resigned within months of that report’s release, leading the Meigs County Commission to appoint then-Nelsonville Police Chief Scott Fitch to serve the rest of his term. The Independent reported shortly after Fitch was appointed that he had previously been fired from the Ohio BCI for unbecoming conduct including lying about an evidence inspection and racist Facebook interactions.

Proposed zoning changes heard by the Athens City Council would make it easier to install solar panels, permit outdoor dining more readily and reduce the required distance between drive-thrus and homes. (Athens Messenger)

“OU doesn’t really put enough effort into actually showing that they genuinely care.” Ohio University students questioned the school’s recognition for its diversity efforts. (The Post)

Former Nelsonville police and mayor’s clerk Jessica Mount has been charged with two fifth-degree felony charges for allegedly using the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway database for unauthorized purposes. (Athens Messenger) 

Kelsea Mercer argues it should be “beyond debate” that a nurse at the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville should be found liable for her mother Jennifer Ohlinger’s 2018 death at the jail to a federal appellate court. (Logan Daily News)

A new physical and digital exhibit at the OU Alden Library showcases the historical photographs of William Edward Peters, who explored Athens County with his camera in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (OU)

Yet again, Hocking County officials will be investigating infrastructure issues in Murray City (which is just over the county line from Athens County) after issues potentially related to sewer renovations came to a recent head. (Logan Daily News)

The Ohio Rail Development Commission will apply to the federal government for funding to study expansion of Amtrak service in the state. (News5 Cleveland) 

In the private sector, reports came out that Norfolk Southern, the freight giant that runs a line right through Athens County, lobbied against stricter rules around the very brake issue that caused the disastrous derailment in East Palestine during the Obama and Trump administrations. (The Lever)

Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed per-child tax deduction would not help poor families, says a Columbus-based public policy analyst. (Ohio Capital Journal)

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Obituaries

Louis E. Wright

Marcia Ann Van Nest

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Public meetings

Meeting schedule is based on meeting notices published by public bodies and regular meeting schedules. Meeting information may change after this is posted. Check this post for the most up-to-date information.

Monday, 2/13:

4:30 p.m.: Le-Ax Water District Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Le-Ax Water Office, 6000 Industrial Dr., Athens. In-person only. Agenda

5:30 p.m.: Athens City Historic Preservation Commission has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens. In-person only. Agenda

6:30 p.m.: Lodi Township Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the township office, 15525 Fossil Rock Rd., Athens. In-person only. Agenda

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

7 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council has a regular biweekly meeting at Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Dr., Nelsonville, and over livestream. Agenda

7 p.m.: Trimble Village Council has a regular monthly meeting at the village hall, 19549 Congress St., Trimble. In-person only.

7:30 p.m.: Tuppers Plains Chester Water District Board of Directorshas a regular monthly meeting at the Tuppers Plains Chester Water District, 39561 Bar 30 Rd., Reedsville. In-person only. Agenda

Tuesday, 2/14:

5:30 p.m.: Athens Township Board of Trustees has a regular biweekly meeting at the Athens Township Hall, 313 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only. Agenda

5:30 p.m.: Athens City Commission on Disabilities’ Outreach & Communications Committee has a meeting at the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., 1st fl. conference rm., Athens. In-person only. Agenda

7 p.m.: Burr Oak Regional Water District Board has a regular monthly meeting at Tom Jenkins Dam Water Office, 23560 Tom Jenkins Dam Rd., Glouster. In-person only.

7 p.m.: Lee Township Board of Trustees has a regular monthly meeting at the Lee Township Office, 2013 Mill St., Albany. In-person only.

Wednesday, 2/15:

10 a.m.: Athens County Municipal Court has a hearing in the prosecution of Gabriella Wolman for allegedly kicking Clay Lewis during a protest outside Artifacts Gallery last month at the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., 2nd fl., Athens, and over Zoom by request.

Read more: 

• Woman accused in Artifacts assault pleads not guilty (Feb. 8)
• Assault charges filed after attack at Artifacts Gallery protest (Jan. 23)  

10:30 a.m.: Hocking Conservancy District Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Hocking Conservancy District, 560 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only.

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.

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

3:30 p.m.: Athens County Family & Children First Council has a regular monthly meeting at the OhioMeansJobs – Athens County office, 501 W. Union St., 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.

6 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council has special committee meetings at the Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Dr., Nelsonville, and over livestream. Notice

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.

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

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

Thursday, 2/16:

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 rm., Athens, and over Zoom. Agenda

3:30 p.m.: Trimble Village Council has a regular monthly meeting at the Trimble Village Hall, 19549 Congress St., Trimble. In-person only. Agenda

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 Municipal Arts Commission and Athens Recreation Advisory Board have a joint meeting at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens. Agenda

5:30 p.m.: Hocking College Board of Trustees has a regular bimonthly meeting at The Lodge at Hocking College, 15770 OH-691, Nelsonville. In-person only.

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.: Trimble Local Board of Education has a regular monthly meeting at the Trimble Local School District office, 1 Tomcat Dr., Glouster. In-person only. Agenda

6:30 p.m.: Athens City School District Board of Education has a regular monthly meeting at the district office, 21 Birge Dr., Chauncey. In-person only. Agenda

Friday, 2/17:

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.

Saturday, 2/18:

11:30 a.m.: Age-Friendly Athens County has a community discussion at the Glouster Public Library, 20 Toledo St., Glouster. In-person only.