[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6197726,"mediaKeyId","3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187","parentId",3850191,"title","Athens council approves midyear budget amendments and several capital items; members debate midyear adjustments","audioSeconds",46,"startMs",5766000,"endMs",5812000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187&start=5766&end=5812","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187/thumbnail_5766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197726/Athens-City/Limestone-County/Alabama/Athens-council-approves-midyear-budget-amendments-and-several-capital-items-members-debate-midyear-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197726-2761f367295b011fc15af3a90b6716ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442773&Signature=Kr44vLAsdLh5cF6lf7ZCpGu7~ojrYWyQvOkSQiXY54HHB6KRF2UN3ULJDqT9nwfDYeAw-Kcl-emnJkxpSuqGaTFWOKEwKNvtvLVjWSNAc0NkMfl4VLEC~qsZe99LOHBT7gDtE-aQG1AaTIy9b-ynjslj7jCEFwBtwpHPlwiuKbDPeW7GUhWpS048GLFcmABGjMXC3uZSkr3sc1Vi4CCALIDSwEVZGCqAshVtVINcRs1ZDtc808SGm175ghyJbO1IaX~k6zWoeUjWMpiff7-XVdMFzQWHf-BX2NGkNoLISpnnrYXlm652zNHgqx66yXhFI-F~2WulZb-S0~FnVIuzTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Athens City, AL","date","2025-06-17T10:50:48Z","article","The Athens City Council voted unanimously to approve midyear FY2025 budget amendments totaling $535,600 and to adopt a slate of resolutions and ordinances on items from the consent and regular calendars.

Councilmembers approved the budget amendments (Item V) after discussion about why the midyear adjustments were needed. City staff explained that the amendments reflect expenses or previously approved staffing changes that were not anticipated when the fiscal-year budget was adopted; examples cited included a $44,000 amendment for the building-inspection department to cover a position the council had approved in November and unanticipated building-maintenance expenses such as roof replacements at two fire stations. The finance director said the city’s general-fund position remained positive through midyear, reporting an approximate $2.7 million surplus at the time of the update.

Council members used the suspension-of-rules mechanism to advance several items in the same meeting. Resolutions approved included payment up to $60,000 to Outdoor Elegance to remove grass and install brick pavers on portions of the courthouse square; an allocation not to exceed $200,000 from 2024 general-obligation-warrant proceeds for renovations at 304 East Hobbs Street; and approval of bathroom fixtures for the Sunrise Park project in an amount not to exceed $35,000 charged to 2024 general-obligation-warrant proceeds.

Other approved items on the consent calendar included reappointments to boards and commissions, vehicle purchases for the police department, purchase of landscaping and utility equipment for public-works departments, surplus declarations, and election-technical services. The council also approved an electric-utilities paving contract for $151,426.11 and adopted organizational and job-description changes for the water services department.

During debate on the budget amendments, Councilmember Harold Wells questioned why several items now needed midyear additions and stressed his preference that spending be demonstrably tied to need. City staff and the mayor responded that most line-item adjustments reflected items the council previously approved (often via suspension of rules when needed) or were unforeseen emergency expenses, and that the midyear amendment process keeps the line-item budget accurate. The budget-amendment resolution passed by roll call vote, 4–0.

The council also passed two ordinances on the regular calendar: an amendment to the city code (Section 2-32) to explicitly permit the mayor to resolve or settle certain claims and civil litigation within defined limitations, and an ordinance updating city council procedural rules to codify current practices (for example, clarifying time allowances for public comment and conduct expectations for speakers). Both ordinances passed by 4–0 roll-call votes.

All votes described above were recorded by roll call and passed unanimously by the four members present.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting 6/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved $535,600 in FY2025 budget amendments and multiple resolutions—including $200,000 for a downtown renovation, $60,000 for square pavers, and $35,000 for Sunrise Park bathroom fixtures—after discussion about midyear appropriations and the suspension-of-rules process.","taxTitle","Athens City, Limestone County, Alabama","taxId",65000,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197731,"City planning staff updates council on Athens 2040 progress as population outpaces projections",1184,1022000,2206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187&start=1022&end=2206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187/thumbnail_1022000.jpg","/articles/6197731/Athens-City/Limestone-County/Alabama/City-planning-staff-updates-council-on-Athens-2040-progress-as-population-outpaces-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197731-b4c6e32764ea680dc34154a7ab9caf6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442773&Signature=bRdp1i2xbmKiCI4JSQLL0qvyXkHBNDPPndT4122XaOfGCURCUI2xGE2yAbE9g0z51f75tgrC5jr4Oo9uia7Y826svjn3ldo8iGLtqiY99Dc0Ur0G6MjRsS8l7QG5jge~qBiGIrt7nt-pX3lceEuXPNL1EqJwExM5w7TJMrhjrQXjhA16tBSqZEFZqV5msp874BCOf4pyFcEPt4wl2XuemDkN7AeCMWqpgqpqtA8S8~eJLCzcuXHdWkcU8Dqq9cRrA9IkSUYMNfkWEE4VuYnm64zcEBinLaTQXxnhtv9nyBQl8TyFUbODMiMIqdd27kRxZcSUkY96xIKh1YQSW99VRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Chitwell, the city planning staff member who presented the Athens 2040 comprehensive-plan implementation update, told the City Council that Athens’s population reached about 32,000 in 2024, roughly five years ahead of prior projections, and highlighted housing, zoning and transportation actions the city is pursuing.

“By 2024 our population is at about 32,000,” Chitwell said, noting that the city had been projected to reach that figure around 2030. Chitwell summarized early implementation steps including enforcement of updated residential building-material standards, annual plan updates to the planning commission and a zoning-audit process that has informed an ongoing zoning ordinance rewrite.

Chitwell presented data showing a 28% population change between 2020 and 2024, a 2023 median household income of about $65,000 in Athens, a May 2025 median home sale price of approximately $293,000 (Valley MLS), and a 2.5% unemployment rate for Limestone County. She said only 1.8% of occupied single-family housing stock was built in 2020 or later and that the city had roughly 6,806 layout approvals on its maps, with about 1,096 in preliminary status and about 4,224 in final status.

Chitwell said the city has received over 1,000 responses to a transportation-plan survey that staff and consultants will use to identify problems and “countermeasures” to prioritize projects over the next 10 to 15 years. She described outreach with stakeholders—including Athens City Schools, Athens State, hospital representatives, Habitat for Humanity and others—through initiatives such as a TVA Connected Communities workshop that identified workforce housing at the $50,000–$70,000 income range as a priority.

Councilmembers raised questions about traffic on eastern approaches to the city and how the transportation plan will address congestion; Chitwell responded that consultants will analyze public input and data and propose prioritized countermeasures and projects. Councilmembers also asked about when zoning and developer inquiries are first checked against existing zoning; Chitwell said zoning is one of the first items the office reviews when a developer approaches staff.

Chitwell said some near-term amendments are being considered, such as redefining open-space requirements so the 5% minimum in subdivisions reflects active open space rather than drainage detention areas. She noted the city’s comprehensive plan won a 2023 outstanding planning award for communities under 50,000.

No formal council action was taken during the presentation; councilmembers asked staff to continue outreach and return with planned ordinance amendments and transportation-plan materials for subsequent review.","Planning staff told the council Athens has reached about 32,000 people—five years ahead of projections—and reviewed housing, zoning and a transportation plan that drew more than 1,000 survey responses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197736,"Athens State asks city and county for $4 million toward Carter Hall renovation",540,438000,978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187&start=438&end=978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3850191-c67b71c50b8a8db3fc6aac94beeb5187/thumbnail_438000.jpg","/articles/6197736/Athens-City/Limestone-County/Alabama/Athens-State-asks-city-and-county-for-4-million-toward-Carter-Hall-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197736-bbd646733befa30cfbe1b266f0af254a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442773&Signature=YO7oOUma-2v8Fm1N-tizuUqzYPKeX-OPIQ09WuwisVqmHiB5-CfYpkeHdhq3pe5aFs1-~jMO7nSyfp-7ekKXzjeaoZPKCR-xe4~XaU6WjVtB487oy9qWfVYvBCu6gJFo5btztS0sZVduh2b6AoajpDu-O4eiUguEC~OJzDRC96mtcHI~YWs~RPk7V-iim9DjbfARCliOjqrnORzb9hZhTdAtsGd8XHtvp74gWoKHuzIez8gD9w4TphyYcmWwMJqGhOazGVF7~poLVl9Aslj~3J8ixVv20IwLzUughEz4Wmm2sfCY5XdNtmy2PIH03e2AotJOtd~H-3vx72Y7zedSeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from Athens State University asked the Athens City Council and Limestone County Commission on a city meeting night for up to $4,000,000 in local support to renovate Carter Hall on the university campus.

The university presenter said bids are scheduled to be submitted July 10 and will be valid for 30 days, after which the Athens State University Board of Trustees would vote on moving the project forward depending on the bid results and on funding commitments from the city and county. The presenter described the renovation as an 18-to-24-month project and said the city’s and county’s commitments could be structured in different ways, including issuance of bonds.

“Those bids are good for 30 days and then the Athens State University board of trustees would need to vote on moving that project forward dependent on those bids and what kind of funding that we do receive from the city council and the county commission,” the university representative said. The presenter said the university’s request to each local body was “dollars 4,000,000.”

Council members asked for details the city would need to act. One councilmember requested bond-structure terms and annual debt-service figures. The university representative said a third-party financial institution had provided an example annual debt service of about $103,000 per $1 million borrowed, which the presenter used to illustrate that a $4 million commitment would translate roughly to $400,000 in annual debt service.

The presenter said state approvals are required before work can begin and noted community support, saying about 130 people had attended a town-hall presentation. The county expected the request on its July 7 agenda. City staff asked the university to provide bond terms and related numbers in writing by the next Wednesday so the council could consider placing the item on its agenda before the July 10 bid date.

No formal vote or financial commitment by the council was taken during the presentation; council members indicated they would need the written terms and internal consideration before scheduling a vote.

Athens State and university officials said they will return with the requested financing terms and underlying documentation for council consideration.","Representatives from Athens State University requested up to $4 million in local support for an 18–24 month Carter Hall renovation, saying bids are due July 10 and any local commitment could be structured as bond financing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Athens council approves midyear budget amendments and several capital items; members debate midyear adjustments

City planning staff updates council on Athens 2040 progress as population outpaces projections

Athens State asks city and county for $4 million toward Carter Hall renovation