Recap of Athens-Clarke County Agenda Setting, March 20 2009

Many Athens-Clarke County commissioners said at the agenda setting session Thursday night they want to once and for all pass and implement an effective lighting ordinance. Not all agree they have reached the point where that is possible.

“The inability to pass an ordinance on lighting stretches the public’s patience for the commission to pass legislation,” said David Lynn,District 5 commissioner. Lynn is among four of the 10 ACC commissionerswho said they wish to end what has become an ongoing saga of outdoor lighting ordinance-building.

In other action, the Mayor and Commission agreed to place on the consent agenda for the April 7 meeting approval of capital and operating grant application for the Athens Link Transit Service despite concerns raised by commissioners present. Items placed on the consent agenda are voting on as a block without individual discussion.

The session opened with a special vote on the naming of the Bobby M. Snipes Water Resources Center in honor of ACC Deputy Manager Bob Snipes. This vote passed 8-to-2.

The Mayor and Commission chose to name the Water Resources Center after Bob Snipes to recognize his hand in the development of the Oconee Reservoir. Kathy Hoard recounted memories of Snipes and his involvement with the county citizens, stating that “if any building should be named for a public servant, it should be Bob Snipes.”

During the light-ordinance debate, District 7 commissioner Kathy Hoard recounted a prior two-year pursuit of an effective ordinance that ultimately led to nothing. She expressed concern at the inability to enforce these ordinances, but she said that she would rather have one in place “instead of just talking.”

Commissioners Ed Robinson and George Maxwell expressed concerns regarding the Link Transit Service and its ability to extend out to citizens that had been relocated to the outskirts of the county decades ago.

Both commissioners stated their desires for portions of Link funding to be reallocated towards an effective transportation solution for these displaced citizens.

“We’re no longer the people who made these mistakes, but we are the people who need to be looking out for these folks,” said Robinson, District 6 commissioner. District 3 Commissioner Maxwell followed Robinson with an impassioned speech on the matter.

“If we as a government look after all our people, then we would not have some of the problems than exist now in Athens-Clarke County,” said Maxwell. “When I look at senior citizens of Athens-Clarke County that have to walk when they could have gotten on the bus, it does disturb me.”