Communiqué
Athens Mayor Patterson Begins a Monthly Series of Talks with WOUB
By: Tom Hodson
Posted on:
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson has spent just six months on the job but he feels he already has made some progress on his agenda and vision for the City of Athens.
Mayor Patterson shared some of the highs and lows of his first few months in office during a conversation with WOUB. He will be a regular monthly guest on WOUB’s Conversations from Studio B to talk about issues facing the city and the region.
He mentioned t
hat he is excited about the progress being made for an extended plaza adjoining the re-built buildings on W. Union St. Construction is taking place to reconstruct buildings after a fire destroyed several of them.
He also mentioned that he has visions for re-purposing the Armory at the end of Court St. into a multipurpose Cultural Center.
His agenda also includes creating a Special Improvement District for the uptown area. He believes that a Special Improvement District will stimulate upgrading the area and making it more family-friendly.
Finally, he is pleased with the current level of cooperation between law enforcement for the City and for Ohio University. He states that they cooperate well and bolster each other’s service to the community.
Mayor Patterson says he meets monthly with Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis to discuss pending issues and to negotiate resolutions to any problems.
Mayor Patterson notes an area of cooperation is the construction of a new entrance into the University off of Stimson Ave. He says it will benefit the university and an industrial establishment expanding its operations adjacent to the new roadway.
Mayor Patterson also noted that on July 20 at the Ohio University facility in Pickerington a summit conference will take place of mayors and city executives from towns across Ohio that abut a major university or college.
Issues of common concern will be discussed at this first-of-its-kind summit including how best to handle “fests” within a community. Mayor Patterson has been one of the organizers of this event.