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AN INSIDE TAKE ON LOCAL ISSUES
Most everyone knows that Ben Emanuel has
put down his pen and is now working with a
paddle. Ben invited me, Kelly Girtz and Athens
environmentalists April Ingle and Elizabeth
Little on a Sunday afternoon canoeing expe
dition down the Middle Oconee. It was an
enlightening trip that certainly highlighted
the need for more monitoring so that we can
be aware of the impact we are having on one
of Athens' most valuable resources. For exam
ple, the plastic bag fee brought up last year
by the Solid Waste Task Force may not only
help save space in our landfill, but also cut
down on the number of bags that are unfortu
nately finding a home in the river. That, along
with increased fines for littering, might get
those who don't think twice about throwing
something out of the car window to realize
their actions have significant costs for them
selves and, more importantly, our community.
You can't help but notice the sewer lines
along the river. As a matter of fact, a sewer
line crosses the Middle Oconee, which neces
sitated some MacGyver-type abilities, or quick
thinking on Ben's part, to navigate beyond
the manmade obstacle. The water was up a
bit, so we all had to lie flat in our canoes
in order to keep on rowin' down the river.
Luckily, no one hit their head. And, fortu
nately, it looks like the commission has gotten
comfortable with removing the proposed sewer
lines from our service delivery plan that would
greatly impact the Sandy Creek basin area.
This is a good move that in the long run will
help us protect our drinking water and manage
growth along this important corridor.
However, one dilemma we have to find a
solution for is how to help those in that area
who treat their waste with septic tanks. The
Legislative Review Committee Is looking into
ways we can help manage and maintain septic
systems so they last longer for the homeowner
and are environmentally safe for Athens.
Learning all about septics is certainly one of
the pleasures of being a commissioner.
Not only was canoeing down the Middle
Oconee a great learning experience, but it was
a ton of fun as welt Somehow we need to find
more ways to make our rivers sources of recre
ation for people. However, the next time I go
down myself, I hope I don't get any more ticks
setting up shop on me.
Speaking of ticks: what to do with the ten
nis center has become a small topic of conver
sation for the community and the commission.
This SPLGST-funded project has been on the
back burner for some time now and decisions
are ready to be made so that the project can
move forward and become a reality.
The first decision that we need to make
is where in the world, or rather Athens, we
should put 12 or so tennis courts. Take a
short drive down Sunset, Holman and other
streets near Bishop Park, the top site under
consideration for the facility, and you'll see
a bunch of yard signs telling you that many
people in that vicinity and beyond really wish
that wasn't the case. I'm sure former Mayor
Julius Bishop would appreciate all the love
being shown for his namesake, and for good
reason. Bishop Park is a great neighborhood
community park that offers a wide variety of
different uses for so many people. It really is
a park that should be a model for those in the
profession of park development, or whatever
the name is for those who create parks that
bring people together to exercise, play base
ball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, swim,
walk, celebrate Independence Day, not to
mention offering the chance every Saturday to
buy locally baked bread. Bishop Park certainly
offers all of this and more.
I'm not sure yet where the discussion and
vote on the tennis center will go, but I do
believe that everyone on the commission has
valid points for the positions they are making.
At the end of the day, I'd like to make sure
that we maintain the diverse nature and use
of Bishop Park as a neighborhood community
park, that the tennis center has minimal
impact on surrounding residents wherever it
goes, and that we create more amenities for
residents on the eastside of Athens. The final
vote for the tennis center will be in August
and there will be plenty of time between now
and then to let us know what you think.
We'd also like to hear what you think on
another Hem that the commission will be
talking a lot about in the coming months,
and that is how to best use $190 miltion for
our next round of SPLOST projects. My idea of
building a Malibu fun center, complete with
bumper boats and putt putt has been com
pletely nixed by Commissioner Ed Robinson.
Let us know what you think about SPLOST
and any item on our agenda for this month,
which you can find online at www.athen-
sclarfcecounty.com.
Mike Hamby
Behind the Rail is a monthly column intended to sene
as an informal citizens’ guide to issues before the
ACC mayor and commission in each agenda cycle.
District 10 Commissioner Mite Hamby is writing the
first installments, and the other nine commissioners
and the mayor have been invited to participate in Hie
future.
8 FLAGPOLE.COM • JUNE 23,2010