Athens-Clarke County Mayors and Commissioners met at City Hall on March 19, ostensibly to discuss next year's county budget, but Commissioner Dexter Fisher had other things on his mind.
Towards the end of the work session, Mr. Fisher introduced a motion that passed to add a discussion on “community involvement and civility” to the agenda. He then went on to tell his colleagues about the divisions in the city and the unpopularity of Athens' elected officials as they approached Jesus. The main cause was the murder of university student Laken Riley, allegedly by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, which sparked the incident. A heated political debate over federal border policy and local government attitudes toward immigration.
“I'm very disturbed by how divided this particular community is right now over what happened in our community,” Fisher said. “As leaders and as elected officials, we need to begin the healing process.
“When I talk to people, my constituents…don't trust our government. They don't trust us,” he said.
The commission's March 5 meeting included dueling rallies in front of City Hall, with one side expressing support for immigrants and the other denouncing Athens-Clarke County as a “sanctuary city.” (Local officials say this is false.) Pro-Palestinian activists are also calling on the committee to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, another notable issue.
“After the meeting, I went home feeling defeated and actually considered resigning,” Fisher said. “We thought, how can we continue to operate in this environment if we have a community that doesn't trust us?
“Both sides don't trust us,” he said. “We're not going to be perfect, but we're not really well-liked by the community, so we have to do something about it.”
Fisher compared his work on the committee to when he played college football and said the committee should work as a unit. Commissioner Carol Myers mildly pushed back against the idea.
“We are not a complete team because sometimes we represent different points of view,” she said. “I think the challenge is to do this respectfully and thoughtfully.”
Mr. Myers asked Mr. Fisher for details. He cited emails Giltz sent to committee members regarding the Palestine resolution that one committee member forwarded to an activist group, as well as disagreements over revenue division within tax allocation areas and Giltz's correspondence with a refugee settlement group in Athens. He also mentioned his consultations.
Gertz said the reason he put the TAD revenue split on the committee vote agenda was so the committee could consider it. And the commission ultimately voted on a 70-30 revenue-sharing agreement that tilted toward East Athens rather than its opposite, Downtown, he said. About what Gerts suggested.
Regarding refugee resettlement, Gertz said a group supported by the U.S. State Department wants to resettle “dozens of families” in Athens and has sent them letters of introduction. That number is small compared to the roughly 1,000 people who migrate to Athens each year, he said, and the refugees are vetted by the State Department and have skills needed by local employers.
Still, Fisher said, “I truly believe this creates a problem for us,” and asked where the refugees would be housed. “When you bring people in from war-torn countries, you're dealing with mental health issues, language issues, a lot of things,” he said. “It’s not just about increasing participation.”
Commissioner Jesse Hall was active in forwarding Gertz's emails regarding the Gaza resolution. “If someone asks me about something in my inbox, I just forward it on unless it's attorney-client privilege,” they said. “I don't think there's a need for a public records request for that.”
Hall added that he felt the mayor acted appropriately in the situation brought up by Fisher, noting that the 2019 resolution had recently caused such an uproar among conservatives that he didn't realize at the time. It pointed out. “We have officially said we want to be a community that welcomes people from all over the world,” Hall said.
Commissioner Obita Thornton defended Fisher and called for improved communication. “I think he just suggested ways we could do better because people are talking,” she said.
“Big Rocks” budget
Earlier, Administrator Blaine Williams announced the budget process to commissioners at an annual “big rock” meeting where officials discuss overall trends and issues, as opposed to May hearings that delve into the details. explained. “Folks, a budget is really an expression of priorities,” he said. “We have a limited amount of resources. There are so many great things to do, but unfortunately we have to choose between them.”
Recruiting and retaining employees is a top priority for Williams in a challenging labor market. Last year's raises helped reduce turnover in ACC Government, and Williams is recommending a 4% raise in fiscal year 2025 at a cost of $3.9 million. In addition, Williams hopes to continue using the remaining funds from last year's budget to address the backlog of maintenance and capital projects, such as vehicle replacements.
Overall, Williams projects its operating budget for next fiscal year to be $191 million, an increase of 2.6% from 2024. Early estimates indicate that property tax digests as of Jan. 1 would increase by 8%, generating $7 million in additional revenue. Sales taxes going into the general fund are projected to be $37.4 million, an increase of $3.7 million, a good sign for local retailers. These are his two main sources of income for the local government, which together account for about three-quarters of the budget.
east side development debate
Commissioners are scheduled to vote next week on an East Side townhouse development that neighbors have been fighting over for more than a decade.
The oddly shaped five-acre parcel in front of the Green Acres subdivision has been difficult to develop due to its lack of access to Barnett Shoals Road. The most recent proposal was to build the Kroger Fuel Center in 2016, according to ACC Planning Department documents.
Currently, applicant Frank Pittman has submitted plans for 28 two- and three-bedroom townhouses on a cul-de-sac, with an RS-25 (half-acre lot) to RM-1 (multifamily) Requested a zoning change. The committee is scheduled to vote on the request on April 2.
About 20 residents spoke to commissioners about the development at a March 19 agenda-setting meeting, with many expressing concerns about traffic, runoff and students living there, but others voting in favor, citing Athens' housing shortage. There was also Developers said the proposal would fill a “missing middle” housing need, such as affordable townhouses and small apartments, but county planners said the proposal lives up to that label. Recommended rejection as it was not applicable. However, the ACC Planning Committee did not accept the transportation and student housing arguments and unanimously recommended approval.
Perhaps the decision would be easier if the project's design had been better, several county commissioners suggested. “Currently, the Eastside business corridor is covered with fast food restaurants, curb cuts and asphalt parking lots,” said Commissioner Carol Myers, who represents Green Acres. “The residents right down that corridor have a right to want more than the same old thing on this property.” He pointed out that
Myers said he doubts that increasing housing supply will actually lower prices. However, Commissioner Jesse Hall said there is sufficient evidence that the main cause of high home prices in Athens is a lack of supply. “We have to build it somewhere,” Hall said.
Commissioner Melissa Link said Greenacres residents don't need to worry about a little more density. Neighborhoods like Normal Town and Five Points have fairly dense multifamily garden apartment buildings, with a few townhome communities here and there, which blend perfectly into the neighborhood. ” she said. But Ms Link raised her concerns about environmental issues, pointing out the lack of green space and criticizing the development as being too paved over.
Other items under consideration include a request to build a fraternity house on Wilkerson Street, which remains in the Potterytown area near downtown. A gas station and convenience store on Moss Road. Funding for local nonprofits through a new community partnership program. Latest policy on crosswalk construction. In addition, his $100,000 will be added to his Promise to Families to implement an eviction prevention program that will keep an estimated 35 families in their homes.
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