Note: All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Tuesday morning. Click the links for the most up-to-date information.
General announcements
- Athens leaf pickup: City of Athens loose-leaf pickup this week is in Area #2: south of Stimson Avenue, west of Grosvenor Street and mostly north of the Hocking River, including University Estates, Armitage Road, Union Street to Jefferson Avenue, and the north side of West State Street.
- Nelsonville water shutoff: Due to a fire hydrant replacement, water service is shut off today, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. on SR 691 and Kimberly Road between the Hockhocking-Adena Bikeway and Wolfe Bennett Road. When service is restored, the area will be under a boil order until noon, Thursday, Oct. 24.
- Hocking River tree planting: The Hocking River Riparian Restoration project seeks volunteers to help plant trees between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. No digging is involved; volunteers will need to bring their own water, snacks and work gloves. RSVP to Jen Bowman by Friday, Oct. 25.
- Aging in Southeast Ohio summit: Registration is now open for Aging in Southeast Ohio: A Summit for Practitioners and Caregivers. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Buckeye Hills Regional Council conference center, 140 Pike Street, Marietta. It is open to the public, but seating is limited. The $25 registration fee includes lunch.
- Meigs cancer survivor dinner: The Meigs County Cancer Initiative will hold a Cancer Survivor Dinner at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, at the Meigs High School cafeteria. The event is free for all Meigs County survivors plus one guest. RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 24, at 740-992-6626 or by email to courtney.midkiff@meigs-health.com.
- Gallia-Meigs-Jackson Drug Take Back Day: Residents of Gallia, Jackson or Meigs counties can dispose of unwanted, unused and expired medications (including pets’) this Saturday, Oct. 26, between 10 a.m. and noon at the Holzer Center for Cancer Care, 170 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis; The Parks Edge Event Center parking lot, 601 E. Main St., Jackson; or Powell’s Food Fair, 700 E. Main St., Pomeroy.
- Medicare open enrollment: The open enrollment period for Medicare runs to Dec. 7. Individuals needing help with enrollment can call Ohio’s Medicare hotline, 800-686-1578. Do not share your Medicare or Social Security Number with unknown callers, even if they claim to be from Medicare or a healthcare provider.
Traffic advisories
Athens
- Greenbriar Drive: One lane will be closed between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily from Tuesday, Oct. 22, through Thursday, Oct. 24, for water line installation. Traffic may be delayed at times.
- West Union Street: As of Oct. 10, crews were pouring concrete driveways to businesses; paving from Jefferson Street to Hospital Drive and from the SR 682 bridge to the bike path crossing; milling the road from Hospital Drive to Shafer Street to prepare for paving later in the month; installing storm drains around Seaman’s and curbs from Hospital Drive to Shafer Street. Completion date: November 2024.
Nelsonville
- Franklin, Kotner, Frederick and John streets: McKee Paving will perform roadside curb work Tuesday, Oct. 22, as part of the waterline replacement project. Expect delays; motorists are asked to avoid the area and use an alternate route.
- Swett Hollow Road (CR 94): Ditching
- Kasler Creek/Concord Church Road (CR 37): Mow trimming
- Mayles Ridge/Sand Rock (CR 38): Grading
- Featherstone and Linscott Run roads: Bridge maintenance
Ohio Department of Transportation
- SR 690 landslide repair: Between Dutch Creek Road (CR 34) and SR 550. One-lane traffic will be maintained with temporary signals. Expected completion: Nov. 1.
- Albany traffic signal replacement: U.S. 50 at Washington Road/Meadowbrook Road in Albany. Short-term lane closures with flaggers. Expected completion: Nov. 1.
- SR 144 slope stabilization (2): One lane closed between Mountain Bell Road and SR 7; traffic maintained with temporary signals. Expected completion: Nov. 1. One lane closed between Jewell Hollow Road and Bethany Ridge Road; traffic maintained with temporary signals. Expected completion: Nov. 15.
City of Athens recently adopted ordinances (partial list)
The following ordinances and resolutions were adopted on Oct. 7, 2024:
- 0-84-24: Amends the 2024 appropriation ordinance 130-23 to appropriate from the unappropriated balance
- $15,400 to the General Fund, Municipal Court, for the balance of payment on the 2024 Public Defender Agreement;
- $2,806.02 to General Fund, Police, and $3,523.98 to Law Administration Building Improvements Fund (and closing that fund) to replace and mount a tablet in a cruiser and to buy an EV charger for a new cruiser;
- $12,000 to General Fund, Other Administrative, for reimbursed NOPEC grant funds;
- $74,500 to the East State Street TIF Fund, and authorizes the auditor to move that amount from the TIF Fund to the Street Fund to pay for paving of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in the TIF area; and
- $7,000 to the Garbage Fund to cover the internal service fee. Also authorizes an interfund transfer.
Introduced by council member Jeff Risner, 2nd Ward.
- 0-86-24: Authorizes the mayor to execute a three-year employment agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 2403(1). Introduced by the Finance & Personnel Committee.
- 0-100-24: Amends ordinance 16-24 to add Cool Digs’ gem show to the list of events for which enforcement of city codes regarding street vending are suspended. Introduced by Swank.
