[{"_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",6146141,"mediaKeyId","5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84","parentId",5528010,"title","Council authorizes local share for U.S. Army Corps Hocking River study to improve ecology and safety at White's Mill Falls","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",2920000,"endMs",3155000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84&start=2920&end=3155","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84/thumbnail_2920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146141/Ohio/Council-authorizes-local-share-for-US-Army-Corps-Hocking-River-study-to-improve-ecology-and-safety-at-Whites-Mill-Falls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146141-a82cb17504143853e743944266ef22b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588078&Signature=bJn6sOB78LUlIQ1A7yoB-PUP6yjYRwtA9nUChFNoVGHx0aIGQ4YNuuaUBCZ1Ub1aMbaowhN~3UbMSCPAv9XAGHazuW5yVXGKFC-ho6VIznDEluJsZLfHYsWpYqV6jibK3FItRSoMU82taJEXTf~Ub95jQHCV~fmuO2bVLCz6-IPETN22WEcNf9YdinJPob6qJj11hJ6c46ML~AK8c59iEFBiV-ORkNR9mli02i3eYRzHYjQe~4VgjH-ZAfiMnTKmChotx3DFXBiEhTziWvOrHfeJxCUj2KMzh0iQS3o7vq3gbGih~T2TA8xdGUAp29-Aqr9SZErH~fbNkE2cwrgQFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Athens Ohio","date","2025-08-05T13:11:25Z","article","Council reviewed and introduced an ordinance to authorize the city’s local share of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of the Hocking River, which the administration said is intended to improve river ecology, recreation and safety.

“It's a roughly $808,100 — close to $900,000 bill ultimately for this,” the Service Safety Director told the planning and development committee. Under the Corps’ Section 1135 authority, the federal government pays the first $100,000 and the remaining cost is split 50-50, the director said; the city’s local share is $386,753 and will be paid across three years.

Administration told council the study will fund environmental and preliminary design work to make the river a better habitat and improve recreation (paddling, kayaking and canoeing) and to address safety concerns at White’s Mill Falls. “One of the major reasons I embarked on this … was trying to find outside money to improve conditions there and make those falls more safe,” the director said.

Why it matters: The study is preparatory work to qualify for future federal construction funding. It does not itself authorize construction; rather, it creates the environmental review, preliminary engineering and design needed to pursue federal funding for later projects.

Action and budget: Administration said it has budgeted and will pay portions in 2024 and 2025, with the remainder to be placed in the 2026 budget. The ordinance introduced Monday authorizes the director to expend up to $386,753 from stormwater-related funds as the city’s local share.

What’s next: The study will proceed under Corps of Engineers processes and timelines; administration will proceed with the three-year payment plan and seek further federal funding for construction-phase work once the study and preliminary designs are complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Athens City Council - August 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members reviewed an ordinance authorizing the city’s local share of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hocking River study, with administration saying the study’s local share is roughly $386,753 (50% of non-federal costs) and will be paid across three years.","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},6146145,"Council approves ordinance to sign contract for SR-682/56 roundabout after ODOT adds funds",305,1636000,1941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84&start=1636&end=1941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84/thumbnail_1636000.jpg","/articles/6146145/Ohio/Council-approves-ordinance-to-sign-contract-for-SR-68256-roundabout-after-ODOT-adds-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146145-33926bf9e9d3f18ae5fe9696dbcab198/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588078&Signature=mspUT19KvWOQH76ND9dVyjc6~HG1-2-TyTD8rND~wvtLBCyyQWaMCKqVHnZi21NlI3Tp~9ziPk~C2~YJXs0t1pLNBneJV4mZ4jNKe91Rw~NnmIcJmGCR79YbuiTS5faitX59B4-P8pi6GnM4-154X8RWUuvighFEsoR4h8EqFmFWcEu1LBgPr7OJMaw0GKZv1IlG3zkII~u0VtWO-mpRzaj3F5aSscPT~PLuUVViqulmH6c9~qI45iSOvnRF0BHgzc-JW24AU0H9tElfJug0DRWo9CM6uSAY9CsXwTFI6V14ZxhsUwTwZcRYnM6F7XLPBOmvsjN-U-B39MVHgqpzsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council voted to suspend rules and adopt an ordinance Monday that allows the Service Safety Director to execute the construction contract for the SR-682/56 roundabout after additional state funds were obtained.

Transportation committee members said the city received increased funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and a $400,000 award from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Committee members asked why the ordinance’s authorization exceeded the construction bid; administration explained the authorization includes previously approved design and construction engineering costs and a contingency.

“The authorized amount is inclusive of the design costs, as well as construction engineering costs and contingency money costs,” administration told the committee, adding that the intent is to capture previously authorized design funding and the total project cost in one ordinance.

Committee members were told the city was approaching 60 days post-bid opening and needed to sign the contract before the contractor’s bid period lapsed. A motion to suspend the rules carried at the meeting, and the ordinance was adopted so the director could sign the contract.

Why it matters: The pause for contracting would have allowed contractors to withdraw or raise prices; administrators said ODOT made additional funds available to bridge the gap between the bid and previously authorized local funds. The ordinance consolidates design authorizations and construction authorization in the same ordinance to make total project accounting clearer.

What’s next: With the ordinance adopted, the Service Safety Director is authorized to proceed with contract execution and construction is expected to begin later this year and finish in 2026 if timelines hold.","Council suspended rules and adopted an ordinance authorizing the SR-682/56 roundabout contract after state and other grants increased project funding; administration said it must sign within 60 days of bid opening to keep the contractor's price.",{"_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},6146150,"Council weighs $325,000 appropriation for prefab restroom at West State Park amid cost and maintenance concerns",215,454000,669000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84&start=454&end=669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84/thumbnail_454000.jpg","/articles/6146150/Ohio/Council-weighs-325000-appropriation-for-prefab-restroom-at-West-State-Park-amid-cost-and-maintenance-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146150-c72fe6b8b6976b47e887c1b39de62521/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588078&Signature=SqPnQ2KEL8q4fe-gvMXRNnZI0ahi2-U6Hg8kqzZvLe2eb5X-C7nCY8n7t6BMTqxFRbP0UEle~5PFEY6Z28-TQQRNfSgUo3xZ4Gjhvy-W3tziJ5N525hghT~sm8JGUN~R1gchWOrw3VzaISvstlaFnw9Rbl0AR9F7tTNRr5XaezBHpGkVVNuHUdcD6UcwOYPOzzxIsKEob-pdfXNxaR-vphEYqOblTJrv2kYCRbkKNlywI97qBdWQFxMwVCvklauqME5~Z00WbTOYrmcbnqiY8BfRFmSWsAhYrHjoUpYikCsQXR8-t9x7E1caCTy1a6rqGs4ZUYftdUsUdVPBhvbjGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members debated whether to appropriate $325,000 for a new prefabricated accessible restroom at West State Park during the City and Safety Services Committee on Monday, Aug. 4.

The ordinance introduced for first reading would increase the project appropriation by $325,000 to cover a prefabricated building ($250,000) and site preparation ($75,000). The proposed facility is described by administration as four single-user accessible restrooms with baby-changing tables, one adult-size universal changing table, a drinking fountain and flood venting.

“It's my understanding we're gonna have to suspend the rules this evening without that answer. Not a good practice,” Council Member Swank said after asking whether cleaning during the season would be daily. The parks director said seasonal employees typically clean park restrooms daily but promised to confirm and send a definitive cleaning schedule.

Council Member Swank raised cost concerns, citing the building’s 520-square-foot footprint and saying the price equates to about $625 per square foot. “Why couldn't we just build this ourselves using local contractors, employing local people, and keeping the money local? This seems like an exorbitant amount of money for a prefab building,” Swank said.

Administration responded that bids for stick-built construction came in far above estimates and that the city had put the project out to bid three times; in some instances staff received no bids. “We bid this 3 times and nobody — no local contractor was interested in doing it for remotely close to the cost that was the design cost,” Director Stone said. He added the prefab option included site preparation and plumbing under the building and was selected after evaluating cost and availability.

Other council members argued the structure would be an improvement over seasonal porta-potties and that the project had been planned for several years; the mayor and staff said the purchase order closed inadvertently at the end of the prior year and a reappropriation is needed to meet manufacturing and installation timelines so the restroom can be installed this fall.

No suspension to pass the ordinance was taken Monday; the ordinance was read for first reading and council requested additional information about cleaning schedules and clarification of procurement options before any suspension or final vote.

What’s next: Administration will answer questions on cleaning frequency and circulate additional procurement information; the ordinance will return for a subsequent council reading where council may consider suspending rules to meet manufacturing/installation timelines.","Council heard debate over a $325,000 appropriation for a prefabricated, accessible restroom at West State Park. Concerns included per-square-foot cost, whether local contractors could build cheaper, hurricane/flood design, cleaning schedule and whether suspension of rules should be used.",{"_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},6146156,"Council reviews corrected figures for new fire headquarters funding; suspension vote fails",4118,242000,4360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84&start=242&end=4360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528010-f15d1a4ef8c85fb511f7966683bbba84/thumbnail_242000.jpg","/articles/6146156/Ohio/Council-reviews-corrected-figures-for-new-fire-headquarters-funding-suspension-vote-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146156-2c32803d7e586772105a1cd575b7ca5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588079&Signature=k9VevReMkbumxIN36vbgu519vn5pLxVIbO5yuvoKPDVQJDrrOUG~zHn3iFliM-4~0rqHtZyRkZeRcanW08ZcrRz96Ry2T~GI1~Zty9LUcVThfJYYzlt4RzhFaFQvVrX3zMOxdXTNxzZiWnkaajg9WYFSbH~dbjP0qNVyHTtiY~~9s3uuk4XNfSWXwU-hLh3eCNI-J7L0Iei~8qFf6CiekLQyjYlMD~zkqmFYeGyhnM9WzI0TtCe9sdH8aC8G1a97Ifdr5VAPKESGXDf1381onHyIkwzNuG6TCW85Jx5knF8jTg6cjT4GITd90fxtu2-GTqyP40bUxw4Tjfy-lBwVZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members reviewed corrected ordinance language and updated funding for the new fire station headquarters on Monday, Aug. 4, as administrators said earlier paperwork and cross-references contained errors that needed to be fixed before final payment.

The City and Safety Services director told the City Council that an earlier amendment had referenced the wrong ordinance and the wrong fund. “I made an error when I reviewed the ordinances that we pulled together,” the director said at committee, describing a failure to cross-reference the ordinance that placed the project against the safety-services capital levy rather than the general fund.

The corrected ordinance introduced at first reading sets the project authorization at $14,572,000 total, comprised of $640,000 shown against the general fund and $13,932,000 from the safety-services capital fund. The mayor and administration said a FEMA grant reimbursement of $400,770.19 was applied to the capital fund and reduced the amount that would otherwise be taken from the capital fund.

Why it matters: The item funds construction, land purchase, site prep, fixtures and furnishings for the new headquarters; council members had directed administrators in June to resolve remaining payments before recess but committee leaders said typographical cross-references and earlier ordinance amendments left the paperwork inconsistent.

Administration told the committee the corrected numbers ensure all prior design and construction authorizations are consolidated into one ordinance so the auditor and project managers can track total project cost. “If you look at total authorizations, that $13,932,000 from the safety services fund and then the $640,000 … together equal that $14,572,000 authorized in that first paragraph,” the director said.

Discussion and action: After the first reading, a motion to suspend the rules and finalize payment tonight failed; several council members voiced hesitation about suspending rules while language was still being tweaked. Council leadership confirmed the ordinance will return for second reading in two weeks. The administration said it preferred suspension to close out the project, but agreed to return with the finalized ordinance language.

What’s next: The ordinance remains at first reading. Council members asked for the corrected text to be circulated before the second reading so they may review the precise line-item changes. The administration said any remaining changes were clerical and that the corrected figures would be presented at the next regular meeting.

No formal vote to adopt the ordinance occurred Monday; the suspension motion failed and the matter was left for a subsequent council meeting for final action.","Council members reviewed corrected ordinance language and financing for the new fire station headquarters, which now shows a $14,572,000 total authorization split between a $640,000 general-fund portion and $13,932,000 from the safety-services capital fund. A motion to suspend the rules to finalize payment failed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes local share for U.S. Army Corps Hocking River study to improve ecology and safety at White's Mill Falls

Council approves ordinance to sign contract for SR-682/56 roundabout after ODOT adds funds

Council weighs $325,000 appropriation for prefab restroom at West State Park amid cost and maintenance concerns

Council reviews corrected figures for new fire headquarters funding; suspension vote fails