Athens City Council approves emergency sewer repair, multiple engineering contracts, façade grants and staffing changes

The Athens City Council on Jan. 13, 2025 approved an emergency repair to a damaged sewer force main, authorized engineering work on Mooresville Road and a pedestrian boardwalk, ratified two downtown façade grants and approved an executive search contract and several personnel classification changes.

The council approved an unbudgeted emergency contract with Cleary Construction for $50,765.35 to repair the damaged Lower Swan Creek 18-inch sewer force main, funded from the water services department operating revenues. The council voted 4-0 to approve the contract after suspending the rules for immediate action.

The action follows public discussion of several infrastructure projects the council is advancing. The council authorized Gonzales Stratton & Associates to design infrastructure improvements at Mooresville Road and U.S. 72, not to exceed $58,400, funded from the capital infrastructure fund, and approved a separate engineering design agreement with Moore Morrell Engineering for a boardwalk tied to the proposed pedestrian bridge on U.S. 31, not to exceed $15,000. Both contracts were approved by unanimous recorded votes after suspension of the rules to expedite consideration.

Council members also approved the mayor’s request to contract with Mercer Group Associates to conduct an executive search for the city’s public works director position. The contract is a base fee of $18,000 plus direct expenses not to exceed $5,500; the council approved the contract 4-0 after discussion about the merits of an outside search firm. Council members noted there were four internal applicants and many outside applicants, and staff and the mayor recommended using a search firm to broaden the candidate pool.

On economic development in downtown Athens, the council ratified Athens Main Street’s awards under the city-funded façade program: a $4,500 grant to Bean Beans Boutique and a $3,767 grant to Studio 16 Cigar Lounge. The council previously allocated $50,000 for the downtown façade program and ratified those two awards by a 4-0 vote.

The council adopted organizational and job-description changes in the gas department and in the city clerk/treasury office. For the gas department the council adopted an organizational chart (41 full-time positions), added two job titles — measurement and operations superintendent and construction and operations superintendent — and removed the titles operations superintendent and gas measurement supervisor; those items were approved unanimously. The council also adopted a controller job description for the city clerk/treasury department and amended the classification ordinance to add the controller title and remove utilities accounting supervisor, again by unanimous votes.

The meeting included a consent calendar that the council approved 4-0. The consent calendar included several routine personnel travel and training resolutions, purchase approvals for police and street department equipment, the purchase and installation of data drops and laptops for the building department, and reappointments to boards (Henry White to the personnel board through Jan. 12, 2030; Anita Rabe to the Houston Memorial Library Board through Jan. 25, 2029). The council also set a Feb. 10, 2025 public hearing for a rezoning request by Haney Ltd. for approximately 0.76 acres near Hatchet Lane.

Public comment touched on the boardwalk/bridge project and downtown spending. Amanda Schulte asked for more detail about the downtown façade program and the $15,000 engineering item for the boardwalk; staff clarified that the $15,000 was for engineering design only and that the city would seek grant funding to offset construction costs. Resident Mark Wilson questioned pedestrian access to recent and proposed bridges and sidewalks, asking, “How are people supposed to get to the bridge?” He urged the council to consider sidewalk gaps and access for neighborhoods west of Elm Street.

One procedural note: a council member recused themself from the vote on item O (relating to tornado expenses/assistance) because the member said they might individually benefit; that item passed with three ayes and one abstention.

The council concluded by scheduling the next regular meeting and handling petitions, applications and appeals as the agenda allows.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution: Ratify Athens Main Street façade grants — Bean Beans Boutique $4,500; Studio 16 Cigar Lounge $3,767. Outcome: approved 4-0. - Resolution: Contract with Cleary Construction to repair Lower Swan Creek 18" sewer force main; amount $50,765.35; funded from water services operating revenues. Outcome: approved 4-0. - Resolution: Agreement with Gonzales Stratton & Associates for design of Mooresville Road/US 72 turn-lane improvements; amount not to exceed $58,400; funded from capital infrastructure fund. Outcome: approved 4-0. - Resolution: Agreement with Moore Morrell Engineering for boardwalk design tied to pedestrian bridge on US 31; amount not to exceed $15,000; funded from capital infrastructure fund. Outcome: approved 4-0. - Resolution: Contract with Mercer Group Associates to conduct executive search for Public Works director; base fee $18,000 + direct expenses not to exceed $5,500. Outcome: approved 4-0. - Resolutions/ordinances: Adopt gas department organizational chart (41 FTE), add two gas job titles, delete two gas job titles; adopt city clerk/treasury organization chart and controller job description; ordinance amendments to classification list (Ordinance No. 888) to implement job-title changes. Outcome: approved 4-0 for each. - Consent calendar items (travel/training, equipment purchases, reappointments, public hearing set for rezoning Haney Ltd. 0.76 acre): approved 4-0.

Meeting context and next steps

Several infrastructure items approved at the meeting are design-phase contracts; final construction and grant funding decisions remain pending. The Cleary Construction contract is an operational repair that will be implemented by the water services director. The boardwalk engineering contract is intended to support a TAP grant application and to connect sidewalks to the proposed pedestrian bridge; staff said the engineering contract is for design only. The council also authorized an outside executive-search firm to assist in recruiting for the public works director position while retaining internal candidates in the process.

(End of report)