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Council approves $6.25 million Stimpson Avenue reconstruction, adds emergency clause to speed work
Summary
Athens City Council voted to amend and adopt Ordinance 08‑25, authorizing up to $6,254,900 for Stimpson Avenue reconstruction and related engineering, and approved an emergency clause so the city can proceed to bidding and construction work sooner.
Athens City Council on March 3 voted to adopt Ordinance 08‑25, authorizing the city to advertise bids and spend up to $6,254,900 for the Stimpson Avenue reconstruction project and related engineering and construction costs.
Council Member Spieltz presented the changes to the project's appropriation language after the administration reported rising cost estimates. The ordinance breaks the authorization into two fund sources: $4,470,590.19 from the small cities fund (fund 589) and $1,784,309.91 from other appropriations, though the administration clarified a clerical typo during the meeting and confirmed the $1,784,309.91 figure.
Council suspended the rules to consider the changed appropriation, approved an amendment to add an emergency clause, then adopted the ordinance so the city could proceed without the standard 30‑day wait. The mayor and service/safety director told council the street rehabilitation fund balance is “healthy” and that the money will support the last major work on the Stimpson Avenue corridor, including signalization of the bridge approach and staged deck replacement similar to the Richland Avenue work.
Member Swank asked about the street rehabilitation fund’s remaining balance and future projects; the mayor replied the fund can cover the Stimpson Avenue work and other planned projects such as the Roundabout and Columbus Road improvements. Council discussed whether an emergency clause was required to expedite work; the law director said adding the clause required an additional amendment and the council approved that amendment before adopting the ordinance.
Council recorded the procedural steps on the floor: suspension of rules to consider the revised appropriation, amendment adding an emergency clause, suspension of rules again, and final passage.
The ordinance authorizes the service/safety director to advertise and accept bids and to expend the authorized funds; the city will move to bidding and construction management under the city’s procurement rules and project oversight.
