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Committees move forward on fiber upgrades, alley special-use request and Derry Lane closeout funds
Summary
Athens committees reviewed a $450,000 phase of city-owned fiber upgrades (to connect traffic signals and Fire Station 2), a title-49 special-use request to fence a city alley at 145 Groer (seven-year use), and a request to appropriate an additional $200,000 to close out Project 317; items were sent forward for ordinance or law review.
The Planning & Development and City & Safety Services committees reviewed several infrastructure items on Feb. 24 and moved them toward formal council action.
Planning & Development considered a Title 49 special-use request from a property owner at 145 Groer Street to place a fence in a city right-of-way for a seven-year period. The chair described the property’s conversion from a rental to a single-family home and said the applicant completed the code process and paid fees; the chair said the committee would proceed with the three-reading ordinance process. Rob Delich, a nearby resident, asked who would be responsible for maintaining the alley surface and said gravel and dirt have been washing onto sidewalks and the road.
City & Safety Services reviewed Phase 4 of a multi-phase, city-owned fiber installation (Project 347). The phase will install fiber from City Hall South to multiple intersections and connect Fire Station 2; the director estimated the phase cost at approximately $450,000 with $400,000 proposed from the street fund and $50,000 from the general fund. Resident Beth Claud Felter asked whether the fiber would enable signal synchronization to improve traffic flow and reduce emissions; staff said signal synchronization and future camera or sensor connections are among the planned capabilities.
Director Stone also updated the committee on Project 317 (Derry Lane/Dairy Lane), saying the work — new sewer, water, sidewalks and a multi-use path — requires an additional $200,000 appropriation from Street Fund 220 to cover final quantities following a contractor/engineer reconciliation. The committee was told that dispute has been resolved and an amendment to ordinance 12723 will be sought to close out the project.
Next steps: the Groer special-use request will follow the three-reading ordinance process; the fiber project will be prepared for ordinance introduction at the next regular session; and staff will draft an amendment to authorize the additional $200,000 for Project 317.
