The Indy Bulletin Board: Athens County Public Meetings & Local News Roundup 5/15-5/21

Local news roundup

Note: The Athens County Independent is not responsible for errors in other outlets’ coverage. 

Hocking College’s board, President Betty Young and multiple staff members face a lawsuit related to alleged disability discrimination, harassment and assault faced by Caden Cox, a former college football player with down syndrome. The federal lawsuit, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleges Matthew Kmosko, the former college soccer coach, harassed, discriminated against and assaulted Cox as his then-supervisor. The lawsuit also argues the college failed to protect Cox and alleges Young retaliated against Cox for filing a complaint.  (The Columbus Dispatch)

Athens County’s own New Leaf Justice Enterprises and its Nelsonville “recovery village” recently received an award from the Ohio Attorney General. (YouTube) 

Athens Soil and Water Conservation District’s Waterfest returned for the first time in three years. (The Athens Messenger)

Athens County Public Libraries recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its Book-a-Bike program. (The Athens News)

A local look at how a bipartisan Congressional proposal, part of this year’s farm bill, would create a federal grant program to help meat processors cover startup costs. (WOUB)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered chemical company Chemours to stop discharging high levels of PFAS into the Ohio River in Parkersburg, West Virginia. (The Guardian)

Events

• Spoken and Heard: Hanif Abdurraqib, Wondra Chang and Chuck Salmons. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18. Free. Virtual. (Stuart’s Opera House)
• Film screening and panel discussion. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St. Athens. Free. (Athena)
• 5th Women in Business Conference. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Friday, May 19, the Lodge at Hocking College, 15570 SR 691, Nelsonville. Free. (ACEnet)
• First DORA Event of the Summer. 6–11 p.m. Friday, May 19, West State Street between Court and Congress streets, Athens. (City of Athens)
• Running for Local Office 101. 1–2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, Carthage Twp. Fire Station, 21200 Holly Lane, Guysville. (League of Women Voters)
• Coonskin Saturdays in Amesville. 5–9 p.m. Saturday, May 20. Free; food for sale. (Village of Amesville)

Have an event to promote? Add it to our online Calendar!

Announcements

• Water bill assistance: HAPCAP will continue to help low-income residents of Athens, Hocking and Perry counties with water and wastewater bills. Apply online or call (740) 767-4500.
• City of Athens
  • The 2023 city pool brochure is now available for download and in hard copy. 
  • Pool rental requests are now being accepted.
  • The city will power wash the decks of the municipal parking garage between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Floors to be washed on a given day will be unavailable for parking.
• Athens Public Transit service changes
  • Line 7 to Albany and Nelsonville is running hour loops to both areas. 
  • Full Saturday service has resumed.
• ODOT projects in Athens County:
  • Work continues on the US 33/US 50 interchange, with complete replacement of asphalt pavement and construction of a roundabout on Stimson Avenue. Multiple entrance and exit ramps are closed. Expected completion: October 1.
  • Lane closures on US 50 between Harmony Road (CR 24) and Della Drive (CR 52) for sign upgrades. Expected completion: October 1.
  • Lane closure on US 50 between Della Drive and River Road and between Vanderhoof Road and SR 144 for resurfacing. 
  • The SR 7 north ramp to US 50 West is closed until July 15. Detour: SR 144 to SR 329 to US 50.
  • SR 78 is being resurfaced between Trimble Twp. Rd. 675 and the Morgan County line. Traffic maintained by flaggers. Expected completion: August 15.
  • Resurfacing of the entirety of SR 143 began May 15. Expected completion: August 1.
  • SR 681 from US 50 to the Meigs County line is being resurfaced. Expected completion: August 1. 
  • US 33 will be resurfaced between Elm Rock Rd. (York Twp Rd 36) and SR 550 beginning May 22. Traffic will be maintained by flaggers. Expected completion: September 1.

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Public meetings

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

Monday, 5/15:

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

3:30 p.m.: Athens County Board of Elections has a regular monthly meeting at the Athens County Board of Elections, 15 S. Court St., #130, Athens. In-person only.

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

5:45 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council’s Parks & Recreation Committee and Planning & Development Committee have back-to-back meetings to discuss 2023 summer pool rates and legislation to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in Nelsonville, respectively, at the Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, and over livestream. Notice

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.

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

7 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council’s Finance Committee has a meeting to discuss the 2023 Aquatic Center rates at the Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, and over livestream.

Tuesday, 5/16:

9 a.m.: Athens County Budget Commission has a regular weekly meeting at the Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 1st floor annex, auditor’s conference room, Athens. In-person only.

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

5 p.m.: Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia, has a regular monthly meeting (now second Tuesdays of each month), at the Baileys Trail System mountain bike rental office, 23 Main St., Chauncey. Agenda

5 p.m.: Federal Hocking Local School District Board of Education has a regular monthly meeting at Federal Hocking High School, 8461 OH-144, Stewart. In-person only. 

5:15 p.m.: United Campus Ministry Board has a regular monthly meeting at United Campus Ministry, 18 N. College St., basement, Athens. 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 a regular monthly meeting at Tri-County Career Center, 15676 State Route 691, room 108/Pierce Room, Nelsonville.

7 p.m.: Sunday Creek Valley Water District Board of Directors has a regular monthly meeting at the Sunday Creek Valley Water District, 15945 2nd St., Millfield. In-person only.

Wednesday, 5/17:

11 a.m.: Athens County Land Bank Board has a regular monthly meeting at the Ohio University Innovation Center, 340 W. State St., Athens, room 103., and over Google Meet. 

1 p.m.: Athens County Port Authority Board has a regular monthly meeting at the Ohio University Innovation Center, room 103, Athens, and over Zoom. 

2:30 p.m.: Athens County Family & Children First Council has a regular meeting at Ohio Means Jobs, 501 W. Union St., Athens. Agenda

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

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

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

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

Thursday, 5/18:

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

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 floor, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and over livestream.

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 Drive, Glouster. In-person only.

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

Friday, 5/19:

No public meetings