[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6221347,"mediaKeyId","3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2","parentId",3614501,"title","Athens officials to seek roughly $932,000 to finish new fire station after theft; cybersecurity steps outlined","audioSeconds",1907,"startMs",497000,"endMs",2404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2&start=497&end=2404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2/thumbnail_497000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221347/Ohio/Athens-officials-to-seek-roughly-932000-to-finish-new-fire-station-after-theft-cybersecurity-steps-outlined","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221347-bfa04b497a2763eb7983ba77d28993e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776231408&Signature=MCFU3kQduLGtaECihvNomjXqNgMv2vUpHS7XCdptKP30LW2x27Hgcym8f1MWNK2GiVEsU8ZpBbjBjhb8wqJPvI-PzBn38n~NkIwIUIbt41uegnpqjCiuG5UAsesHNGkeiNIiq~Uz183M4LFv4c7qPYyS~diCwxTHKqEm94lTXgtStTsq54sFw0j85ISQA2tOeYEwURrF7lXNnV7ERXmnejIFbQWCAz8Zz3rTmr-oeuNE873pAhUspDCz0HejYThPled3qKmiev2nvBEwBAa5SMIVU3hNbxuLG5U-UIpRJYn7AqWn-vY72pqhDE5pravINPvJmjBVcEKGZpVWA2lvzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Athens Ohio","date","2025-05-28T11:56:59Z","article","Director Stone told the Athens City Council committee Tuesday that the city needs about $932,000 in additional authorization to make a final payment to Pepper Construction to complete Project 346, the new fire-station headquarters.

The additional request stems from a multi-part funding shortfall: a theft of city funds during the project, growing project costs for items added during construction and the normal close-out payments, and the exhaustion of bond proceeds, Director Stone said. \"We owe Pepper Construction the final payment for that project. And that payment is roughly $931,000,\" he said.

Why it matters: The payment covers the contractor’s final invoice and lets the city close the construction contract and move warranty items into normal operations. Officials said the theft and subsequent cash-flow gap require the city to reallocate appropriated funds rather than issue new debt.

What administrators presented

Director Stone told the committee most warranty punch-list work is complete and Pepper is finished for purposes of withholding retainage. To cover the shortage, the administration proposes drawing roughly $350,000 from Fund 206 (public safety capital fund) — made up of about $150,000 in interest earned on bond proceeds and a $200,000 insurance check the city received — and approximately $582,000 from other existing appropriations. Of that $582,000, about $530,000 would come from capital fund 580 (including $30,000 in a new appropriation), $27,000 from the fire operation line 1011208 TC 200, and $25,000 from admin operating line 01/00/1120 TC 200. Director Stone said the administration plans to \"tighten the belt\" on other activities funded by those appropriations this year.

Director Stone also explained litigation and recovery efforts tied to the theft. He said roughly $350,000 has been frozen in a Kentucky bank account that the city believes contains illicit proceeds, and that courts must sort competing victim claims. \"If we get any of that money recovered … my initial recommendation would be to put that into the $4.30 fund, which is the debt fund,\" he said, adding that recovered funds might later be placed back into the capital fund 580 to replace the money being used now.

Council questions and context

Council members asked whether reallocating the capital fund will harm other projects. Member Clotfelter thanked staff for avoiding new debt and asked whether the reduction in the capital fund would hurt planned projects. The administration said the $500,000 already appropriated this year in fund 580 was \"unspoken for\" and that officials had expected to move some of it to other projects if needed; the administration said it would update members on specific balances and timing.

Members also pressed whether additional project elements were approved by council. Director Stone said many added elements — a larger parking area serving an adjacent athletic field, the city’s share of a fitness court, public art funded under a 1% for art ordinance, and land purchase considerations — were considered part of the overall Project 346 scope during development and referenced an ordinance supporting the 1% for art provision.

Cybersecurity and payment controls

Committee members asked about the theft’s cause and whether the city strengthened controls. The auditor and the treasurer said they engaged third-party cybersecurity reviewers and worked with the insurance company and the FBI to develop training. The auditor described new, layered procedures for large payments that include additional verification steps and in-person bank confirmations. An IT representative said the city has enabled two-factor authentication, will enforce periodic password resets for high-risk accounts, has turned on Office 365 settings to flag infrequent external senders, and will require annual forced cybersecurity training for users. \"Two-factor authentication, we've already turned on,\" the IT representative said.

Next steps and actions

No formal council vote was taken at the committee meeting. President Pro Tem Tim Reisner and Committee Chair Pro Tem Reisner offered that legislation will be introduced Monday to authorize the additional funding and to reappropriate the funds described by staff; Reisner indicated the City and Safety Services committee will carry the ordinance forward. Director Stone and staff will present an updated ordinance and a line-by-line spreadsheet at the regular council session.

Ending

Council members requested follow-up detail on fund balances and any future impacts on scheduled capital projects. Staff said they will provide updated fund reports and the draft ordinance when the item is formally introduced Monday.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Athens City Council - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Director Stone told the Athens City Council committee Tuesday that the city needs about $932,000 in additional authorization to make a final payment to Pepper Construction to complete Project 346, the new fire-station headquarters.","taxTitle","Athens City Council, Athens , Athens County, Ohio","taxId",70977,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221333,"Planning committee reviews 7‑year renewal of right-of-way permit at 75 Kimes Lane",183,3076000,3259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2&start=3076&end=3259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2/thumbnail_3076000.jpg","/articles/6221333/Ohio/Planning-committee-reviews-7year-renewal-of-right-of-way-permit-at-75-Kimes-Lane","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221333-c812f5013ebd4b4748bf36e9c0409fbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776231408&Signature=YVpWnAALTsoNNiD7zFrft1XMinO0onnmVdtElKxpN2~vBLthapOHovN5qH~USvnOxwWevXqe7NWerUlbOkgCl264kF9LlvWmsBuKO-6~RcxSgwH~M3sUXuNIyzQi0b6SaNv0VOHJrwL0Ae0hnDMtk34-jHw8AmmOUUm9c~6jTpQ4uRMxNY64E5Pp-OakNIKGhrWX0TjwL~EXde1b0GYfi8fJRXs20btm6SMhaZ2hlneh0m7hYvPfvtSglS6DAIKa7-ApJ3P9CvX247qeaUV68wbVfua2S9YgdZdvEbn59YypTZnwxrqBVWY8TMNOv6LRI3mxaIhiWptFOII9dQPxvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Development Committee reviewed a renewal request Tuesday for a Title 49 special-use permit allowing continued use of right-of-way at 75 Kimes Lane.

Why it matters: The request renews an existing, long-standing right-of-way use for a seven-year period under the city’s Title 49 special-use rules.

What staff said

Committee Chair Pro Tem noted the application is a renewal of an existing permit and that the site has been present for a long time. The administration said the permit previously existed under a revocable license and was converted to the Title 49 special-use right-of-way category when the code changed; the committee confirmed the Title 49 renewal term is seven years.

Questions and next steps

Council members asked whether sign sizes or other terms had changed; staff said there were no notes indicating any change to the sign. Committee members expected an ordinance to be prepared by Monday for formal action.

Ending

The committee concluded the renewal review and directed staff to prepare the ordinance language for Monday’s meeting.","The planning and development committee considered a Title 49 special use of right-of-way permit renewal for 75 Kimes Lane, a seven‑year renewal of an existing use; staff said the site has been long established and no sign changes were noted.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221337,"Finance committee to correct clerical error to move $15,588.83 between internal service funds",181,2911000,3092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2&start=2911&end=3092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2/thumbnail_2911000.jpg","/articles/6221337/Ohio/Finance-committee-to-correct-clerical-error-to-move-1558883-between-internal-service-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221337-5d9f2f5746e24ea86c73cadf0b88eb3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776231408&Signature=NAxnpDc9KfkegTnoEpRTnTyy~zhUs3Atbdxm5oei~V3hS5bq2BFF6O6TzNvUf9i0n3oCqgvnpdMOHBLWv-g9hAae1fcksFgGhz~rKc2lG3k09J~prs5SQNhp1hklTJLtAiyFvqlpVr5ccWlyuHL4DiSkQBa27IGt4TZZQwMBHB1vrCcpExm3Vpt8uDjPFTvE5n3uqY25NtyyA1tLuzjSwOBGEfUeb3ERt7QQs6Es54-UUPZ9iwYQ2hZJcnN6SENHrsrsjwIR6ltwPed2uvcGTiFM1secRTUovgzEMlKwmF6Y6X1NUMUBQSwXxdaftA61RwvTR171UqBJJVr04nNg1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance and personnel committee heard Tuesday that an amendment to Ordinance 37-25 is needed to correct a clerical error involving $15,588.83 deposited in the wrong internal service fund.

Why it matters: The amendment simply adds an appropriation line so the city can legally transfer the funds between internal service funds and reappropriate them for their intended use.

What staff said

The auditor explained the deposit of $15,588.83 had been placed into the city’s other internal service fund (medical) instead of the intended internal service fund. Because transfers require that money be appropriated in the originating fund before transfer, staff must add the missing appropriation line to enable the transfer and reappropriation. \"So, the clerical error was this amount of money … deposited in the other internal service fund,\" the auditor said; the ordinance amendment will fix that line.

Timing and next steps

Committee members asked whether the correction required emergency action; staff said it did not and the amendment will follow the normal ordinance process, with the amendment to be presented Monday for approval.

Ending

No policy change or new spending was proposed; staff said this is an accounting correction to place funds in the right internal service fund so they can be transferred and spent as intended.","Auditor told the finance and personnel committee the city will amend Ordinance 37-25 to appropriate $15,588.83 to internal service fund 865 to correct a clerical error that left transferred funds unappropriated in the originating fund.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221342,"Council committee to amend staffing ordinance, renaming DEI/training role to community engagement and accessibility coordinator",597,2371000,2968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2&start=2371&end=2968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614501-5ccbfd1116ab000a833e1ae8367b6cd2/thumbnail_2371000.jpg","/articles/6221342/Ohio/Council-committee-to-amend-staffing-ordinance-renaming-DEItraining-role-to-community-engagement-and-accessibility-coordinator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221342-13241f846b5656014b5761a79ef0d0c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776231408&Signature=LP9IFL3RxqvnsKG7n~xNxc~vCfJwgYhSVbvIPqBmYTwfPLXihJW5mrdAIvrD4uWLFar7p4JPNzV2hndvkWF8EfErC6LjiYWoUqjNKtQ3bZN-GviFAXXrOobU0hnM~OERrA9u4lcd8cbscqvY8OzmyKw3gYW6RXWshGs2OrkHYL7gT-UKvPo-A5Fa6KHwv6e6jXdzIfO~wTLjkNDF3OWY-ulWdv71CbbMsfVd6yNRh6YRqXGpgPCJzRe2rmy8-Am96uaxD0LLISsTKkbEPMCQLDWB-Th6ieFmw-X5UPyfIKksZ-8-htpFh4rcJOC78n6ZZ8YjQGrh3exRuKeHKto7CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City HR staff presented a draft ordinance Tuesday to amend ordinance 121-24 (02/2025 staffing ordinance) to remove the DEI/training coordinator position and create a Community Engagement and Accessibility Coordinator, an appointed position that will report to the mayor.

Why it matters: The proposed change formalizes a shift in focus from internal DEI/training duties toward outward-facing community engagement, accessibility work and liaison activities with commissions and community groups.

What was presented

At the finance and personnel committee meeting, HR representative Lucas described the proposed change as a retitling and refocusing of a position that has evolved since its creation in September 2023. \"This position would not be a civil service commission or civil service appointee or position. It would be a politically appointed position by the mayor,\" Lucas said. Lucas and other staff said the current employee in the role would move laterally into the new title.

Council and public input

Member Wood and Member Clotfelter asked whether the change was lateral and whether the political appointment status would alter employment protections; HR replied the position had always been an appointed, exempt position with no civil-service eligibility list. Member McCarrie confirmed there are \"no expected fiscal implications of this change as far as employee benefits or salaries;\" staff said there are \"no changes.\"

Two members of the public spoke in support. Rob Delich, who said he serves on a commission committee, told council he had \"heard discussion and the movement in this direction\" and called it \"the right approach.\" Another resident suggested public examples of the role’s work would help community understanding.

Next steps

The ordinance draft will be presented to the full council on Monday for introduction. Committee members asked staff to provide the ordinance language at that meeting and continue presenting examples of the position’s public-facing activities and commission liaison work.","The finance and personnel committee reviewed a draft change to the 02/2025 staffing ordinance to remove the DEI/training coordinator title and create a mayoral-appointed community engagement and accessibility coordinator; the change is framed as a lateral reclassification with no change to benefits or salary.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Athens officials to seek roughly $932,000 to finish new fire station after theft; cybersecurity steps outlined

Planning committee reviews 7‑year renewal of right-of-way permit at 75 Kimes Lane

Finance committee to correct clerical error to move $15,588.83 between internal service funds

Council committee to amend staffing ordinance, renaming DEI/training role to community engagement and accessibility coordinator