Newspaper Page Text
T mark the occasion of our new Mayor and Commission taking
I L/ office, the Wednesday morning quarterbacks here at Flagpole
have compiled a list of our own goals for the Davison administra
tion. Here they are, numbered, but in no particular order. Some are
gimmes, others a bit more lofty. But all are attainable, given the
political will, world enough and time. Enjoy.
1. DEVELOP THE EASTSIDE RAIL-TRAIL. Across the nation
abandoned rail lines are reemerging as vital alternative transporta
tion corridors and recreational hotspots. Georgia's own Silver Comet
Trail is an excellent example, sparking tourism and economic devel
opment along 38 miles between Smyrna and Rockmart. Meanwhile,
the committee appointed to explore an Athens rail-trail has strug
gled with weak leadership and lackluster staff support. That's a
shame, because in addition to providing a much needed alternative
to traffic-choked Lexington Highway by linking downtown with the
suburbs and beyond, an Eastside trail with a restored “Murmur
trestle" would be a surefire tourist magnet. What's not to love?
2. FIX THE LAND USE PLAN. This one's a tall order, encom
passing everything from design standards and transferable
development rights to affordable housing and apartment con
struction. The good news is a lot of the work is already
done. The citizens' vision for their community remains
within the Guiding Principles, and there should be an orig
inal draft of the resulting development ordinance buried in
a file cabinet somewhere. A good place to start might be
revising ACC environmental areas maps to apply the
county's 75-foot development buffer to all waterways.
3. INVOLVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS. Athens neigh
borhood groups were rarely taken seriously by the pre
vious administration. Enforcement of quality of life
ordinances is next to nil as single-family areas con
tinue to be ravaged by slumlords. A formal
system—similar in spirit, if not in function, to
Atlanta's Neighborhood Planning Unit
setup—should give neighborhoods the
influence historically reserved for Athens'
business community. When residents are
no longer forced to play defense 24/7,
they can devote that energy to initiating
their own ideas on how their neighbor
hoods should grow.
4. ENFORCE LOCAL ORDINANCES.
To the critical eye, Athens today looks a
little like Dodge City. Our underfunded
police department has plenty to do with
property crimes, assaults and worse—but
that doesn't excuse the fact that speed
limits are virtually ignored along with
nuisances like excessive noise and public
urination. Then there's the policy of
hitting neighborhood ordinance
violators with lectures rather than r-
fines. And compliance with lighting
and signage regs? Forget about it.
The Marshal's Office and the PD take
their cues from City Hall. They should
be directed to take all illegal activity
seriously.
5. PAY THE PROTECTORS. In
order to accomplish Item #4, this is
a must. The salary scale for the ACC
Police Department makes it extremely
difficult to hire and retain career offi
cers. The county is cutting fire
fighting positions as it spends tens of millions to build new fire sta
tions it can't afford to staff. While the quality of facilities and
equipment is important, taking care of the rank-and-file police offi
cers and firefighters themselves should always take priority. They are
our guardians of public safety, and their salaries and benefits should
be the envy of the rest of the state.
6. PRESERVE DOWNTOWN. Next to raising the millage rate,
perhaps nothing is more politically controversial in Athens than
legislating the protection of downtown buildings. But if there's a
no-brainer on this list, it's downtown historic designation. Few
would argue that downtown is Athens' most important economic
asset, and few would argue that the unique character of downtown
emanates from the structures lining its streets. Yet hackles
inevitably raise when talk turns to preserving those structures by
law. Here's hoping the new administration will make it a priority to
bridge that disconnect.
7. START A SPAY-NEUTER PROGRAM. Though ACC Animal
Control experienced unprecedented spikes in adoption rates late last
year, officers must still euthanize healthy, adoptable dogs week after
week. The Athens Area Humane Society has an engaged, creative
director who seems to be turning things around at the shelter, but
the old Commission repeatedly refused to allocate funds for her pro
posed spay-neuter education program. Currently, volunteer groups
like Athens Canine Rescue and the Pet Assistance and Welfare
Society (PAWS) must shoulder much of the load, working tirelessly
to place animals in homes and struggling to stem the tide of ferals
and strays—cats and dogs left to starve and weather the elements
while posing a health risk to other domestic animals and humans
alike. Two years ago Doc Eldridge declared pet overpopulation a
"problem" in Athens-Clarke. It's past time for the government to
get to work on a humane solution.
8. STREAMLINE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT
EFFORTS. The stated goal of the public-private Economic
Development Foundation is to "attract new businesses ...
while encouraging the retention and expansion of businesses
currently here." The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce,
meanwhile, is devoted to "developing an environment
conducive to business." Then there's the Economic
Development Authority, created "for the purpose of
expanding and developing industry in Clarke County."
That's not to mention the ACC Department of Human and
Economic Development, the East Athens Development
Corporation, the Hancock Corridor Development
Corporation, etc., etc. Are these groups dupli
cating the same tasks—or worse, competing
with one another? Thankfully, Mayor Davison is
already looking into this issue.
9. PROMOTE CARLESSNESS. Despite
lip service from the previous administra
tion about alternative transportation, get
ting around without a car in Athens
remains an unnecessarily dangerous
proposition. There are narrow bike
"lanes" here and there, but not where
they're most needed. Some cyclists insist
that if speed limits were lowered and
enforced there would be no need for bike
lanes in the first place. Slowing down
traffic countywide would also benefit
pedestrians, of course, who often literally
risk life and limb just to cross the street
even when using a crosswalk.
"Village-style" street design would
not only encourage citizens to rely
less on automobiles, but would
make otherwise desolate areas of our
community more appealing to the eye.
And we are blessed to have an enthusi
astic, sharp Transit Director and coopera
tion from UGA to get folks on the buses.
Genuine support from City Hall could
really shake up Athens' car culture.
10. ENACT A TREE ORDINANCE.
As a trip to most any new strip mall
or subdivision proves, "inadequate"
doesn't begin to describe the tree
canopy provisions within Athens' two-year-old development ordi
nance. The fragile twigs and scraggly shrubs most developers are
satisfied to stick in the ground are simply not suitable replacements
for the mature, majestic trees that are mowed down nearly every
time anyone sets out to build anything. In fact, one former
Commissioner suggested last year that the best hope for preserving
green space for future Athenians is through "conservation subdivi
sions." It doesn't have to be that way. As Heidi Davison told
Flagpole during her campaign: "We need a clear, enfotceable tree
ordinance, and we need it now." Couldn't have said it better.
Brad Aaron
T WEDNESDAYS J
um
Mm
from the 80 s and 90 s
Cet^Your Swerve On
w/your Host
MARK BELL
No Cover
J
dr Ml
$2 UUell Drinks
FRIDAYS
I High Energy Dance Music
rjasoni
1/2 PRICE DRINKS
& NO COVER
BEFORE 11PM
$1 DOMESTIC
BOTTLES
9-Hpm
ADMISSION
W/THIS
COUPON!
must present this coupon
at the door for
free admission on Fridays, j
433 E. HANCOCK AVG.
info: 7a&-5U3-is55
JANUARY 8, 2003 • FLAGPOLE.COM 7