ACC Mayor & Commission

Athens Clarke County commissioners decided last night to postpone a decision on the future of a local eviction relief program. Only one organization responded to the county's request for proposals and staff recommended against accepting that bid.

Commissioners could have decided last night to reopen the request for proposals and extend the deadline, but instead decided to address the issue at their October 5th meeting.

The future of a community/government partnership to alleviate evictions in Athens-Clarke County may be in jeopardy, as the program faces a key vote tomorrow.

Last month, Commissioners voted to issue a request for proposals, looking for an agency partner to work with the Magistrate Court, tenants, and landlords to institute an eviction relief program. The goal set by Commissioners was to vote tomorrow night on a partner, with the program starting on October 1.

A committee of Athens-Clarke County lawmakers continued working on the creation of a Human Relations Commission at a meeting yesterday. That commission as proposed would be part of a larger effort by the Mayor and Commission to invest more resources into diversity, equity, and inclusion. Commissioners on the Legislative Review Committee see the HRC as a key part of that effort, along with the county’s non-discrimination ordinance, which passed last month.

Athens-Clarke County Commissioners debated a proposed downtown public bathroom in their work session yesterday. Putting a public bathroom downtown is an issue which has been on the Commission’s radar for months, and last night, county staff briefed lawmakers on the results of a community survey regarding the proposal.

District 4 Commissioner Allison Wright balked at the cost, which county officials estimate at about $148,000 for construction and $33,000 per year in operating costs.