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Athens And OU Formally Agree To Work Together
By: Steffany Hiett
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Ohio University and Athens city leaders say have hammered out an agreement to work together for the betterment of the community and the university.
OU President Roderick McDavis and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl signed a memorandum of understanding on April 12 in order to further the partnership.
The document includes collaborated services such as contribution from OU for fire protection, a mutual assistance agreement and a city and university joint police services advisory council.
Becky Watts, special assistant to the OU president, said this formal agreement comes after the city of Athens asked the university to help pay for a new fire truck last September.
"When the request came forward from the city council in the form of a resolution to the university to assist the city in funding the new fire truck, President McDavis and Mayor Wiehl agreed it was the perfect time to, in fact, formalize the relationship, agreement and commitment that we have to each other," Watts said.
Paula Moseley, Athens service safety director, said the memorandum is important because the city and the university can learn to work together efficiently.
"The city of Athens and Ohio University are symbiotic. I mean, we live and grow together and so anytime we have a project or they happen to have a project, we are able to collaborate and have a better utilization of resources," she said.
Moseley said an Athens-Ohio University committee will be appointed no later than July of this year.
She said the committee will continue to meet and discuss the different matters into further detail.