City of Athens
Recent News About City of Athens
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Section of Oconee River Greenway to close for art installation
A section of the Oconee River Greenway, under the North Oconee Access Road overpass, will be closed to all traffic while a new public artwork is installed: “Water is Life,” by Georgia artist Elaine Stephenson. Installation is scheduled to begin on August 22 with completion projected in mid-September. During this period, all through traffic will be detoured around the work. While work is underway, the closed section of Greenway will be inaccessible for the safety of trail users and workers.
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Oconee Rivers Greenway section closure for art installation
A section of the Oconee Rivers Greenway, under the North Oconee Access Road overpass, will be closed to all traffic while a new public artwork is installed: “Water is Life,” by Georgia artist Elaine Stephenson. Installation is scheduled to begin on August 22 with completion projected in mid-September.
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North Oconee River Greenway section to close for resurfacing
A section of the North Oconee River Greenway, from Sandy Creek Nature Center to the bridge crossing Sandy Creek at the south end of the park, will be closed to all traffic for resurfacing as part of TSPLOST 2023: Project 23. Work is projected to begin in mid-August and continue through the winter. This closure will include the entire Greenway section within Sandy Creek Nature Center and will affect the following natural surface trails:
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Memorial Park Dog Park set to reopen after renovations
The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department has announced that the Memorial Park Dog Park will reopen on Tuesday, July 9, following a complete renovation. The park will be accessible daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset but will temporarily close on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays until noon for turf maintenance.
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Athens-Clarke County announces Fourth of July waste collection schedule
The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department will suspend compost, garbage, recycling, and leaf & limb collections on Thursday, July 4th, 2024, in recognition of the Fourth of July holiday.
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Athens-Clarke County releases six-month review period list on legal non-conforming short-term rentals
On February 6, 2024, the Mayor and Commission adopted text amendments that established short-term rentals (STRs) as a land use regulated by Title 9 of the Athens-Clarke County Code of Ordinances. Short-term rentals are defined as accommodations for transient guests where, in exchange for compensation of any type or amount, a residential dwelling unit is rented or otherwise provided for lodging for any period of time less than 31 consecutive days. Such accommodations are usually, but not exclusively, advertised through websites such as Airbnb.com, Booking.com, Hometogo.com,...
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Athens-Clarke County joins Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance
The Athens-Clarke County, GA Unified Government (ACCGov) and Mayor Kelly Girtz have been selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance alongside 23 mayors from North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Other represented communities include Tampa, FL; Green Bay, WI; San José, CA; San Fernando, Chile; Montego Bay, Jamaica; San Isidro, Argentina; Rionegro, Colombia; and Ottawa, Canada. The Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance now includes 65 cities across 12 countries.
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ACC Solid Waste announces changes to trash collection schedule
For ACC Solid Waste Customers Only: Friday customers, your trash and recycling collection day is changing starting Monday, July 15, 2024. You will have a new collection day for trash and recycling pick-up. In an effort to gain efficiencies, stabilize rising maintenance and fuel costs (customer rates), reduce wear and tear on ACCGov infrastructure (roads, gutters, etc.), retain and hire exceptional staff members, and provide good customer service, we are altering collection schedules. Please have your roll carts out for collection at 7:00 A.M. This change is for both curbside...
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ACCGov seeks public input on HUD PRICE funding application
ACCGov's Housing & Community Development department (HCD) is seeking public comment on its proposed application for the HUD Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Competition Program. HCD is requesting $5 million in PRICE funding from HUD to support repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction activities of owner-occupied and rental manufactured homes; provide down payment assistance for manufactured home units and land; improve infrastructure in local manufactured home communities; and host related community education and outreach activities.
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Public input event on FY26-30 consolidated plan goals rescheduled
The Athens-Clarke County Housing & Community Development department (HCD) has rescheduled the final community meeting to discuss the proposed goals and strategies for the FY26-30 Consolidated Plan. Initially planned for June 20, the event will now take place on Tuesday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pinewoods Library & Learning Center (1465 Hwy. 29 North, Lot F-14). The meeting will be conducted entirely in Spanish as originally intended.
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New Sandy Creek Park playground dedication set for July 3
Families are encouraged to attend the dedication of the new Sandy Creek Park playground on July 3. On this day, admission will be free for all children aged 12 and younger.
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Niki Jones named acting manager for Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
During a Special Called Session on Friday, June 14, Mayor Kelly Girtz named Niki Jones Acting Manager for the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) beginning July 13. The appointment follows the resignation of Manager Blaine Williams, whose last day in the position is July 12. The Acting Manager will assume the duties of the Manager until a permanent Manager is named to fill the position after a national search.
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Athens-Clarke County announces Juneteenth schedule changes
On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved an ordinance that established Juneteenth (June 19) as a holiday for Athens-Clarke County employees. Specific schedule and service changes are included below.
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Athens-Clarke County announces holiday hours for Leisure Services Department
The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department will observe the Independence Day holiday on Thursday, July 4. Parks, including Sandy Creek Park, will operate under regular hours of operation; however, facilities will be closed.
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Runway 9-27 scheduled for closure from June 19 to June 22
Starting on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 7:00 am local time, Runway 9-27 is scheduled to be closed until Saturday, June 22, 2024. This closure is estimated to last four days. During this period, Runway 2-20 will remain open.
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Athens-Clarke County to process and tabulate absentee ballots for June runoff
In accordance with the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 21-2-386(a)(2)(A), this notice serves to inform the Athens-Clarke County community that the Athens-Clarke County Elections Department will commence processing absentee ballots cast in the June 18, 2024 election on the following date and time:
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Athens-Clarke County adjusts solid waste services for Juneteenth holiday
The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department will suspend compost, garbage, recycling, and leaf & limb collections on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, in recognition of the Juneteenth Holiday.
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Athens-Clarke County accepts resignation of manager Blaine Williams
At their Regular Session voting meeting on June 5, 2024, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Mayor and Commission entered into an agreement to accept Manager Blaine Williams’ resignation. As part of the agreement, Williams will remain Manager until July 12, 2024, to assist during a transitional period until an Acting Manager is named. He will also receive a severance of approximately $110,600.
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Leisure Services seeks public input for new master plan development
Leisure Services has initiated the development of a new master plan and is seeking public input. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts online at www.accgov.com/activateathens or in person at various scheduled sessions.
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Athens-Clarke County releases annual drinking water quality report
The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department (PUD) has announced the availability of the Drinking Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This document provides detailed information on local drinking water quality throughout 2023. It underscores PUD’s commitment to transparency and public health by assuring residents that their water is safe to drink directly from the faucet.