Athens Politics Nerd
@athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
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Independent, progressive journalism for Athens, Georgia.
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athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Residents of the Pinewoods neighborhood lack reliable access to clean water, as they have for years.

Some concerned community members pleaded with commissioners on Tuesday to take responsibility for this situation and work to guarantee clean water for all.
www.youtube.com/shorts/sBG0t...
Pinewoods residents in Athens, GA lack clean water
YouTube video by Athens Politics Nerd
www.youtube.com
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I don't understand why she didn't take the item off the consent agenda to ask these questions. Why wait until the end of the meeting when it has already passed? A little strange to me.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Commissioner Davenport had a lot to say about the Firefly Trail during his end of meeting comments. He's asking people to have respect for the property owners who might lose a portion of their backyards as the trail is built.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I think they don't want to pay for it. Why spend money when you don't have to. 😑
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
People are speaking now at city hall, asking the mayor and commission to find a way to connect the Pinewoods community to city water.

Currently, this neighborhood does not have consistent access to clean drinking water. Their water regularly shuts off for hours at a time, as it has for years.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Now the commission is putting everything on hold. The item that changes the procedures for boards, authorities and commissions is going back to government ops.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
IKR he literally voted against a fire station!
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
They're voting on the fire station #5 replacement, drumroll please....

It passes 6-3. Commissioners Davenport, Fisher and Johnson voted no. Thornton is absent.

Thank God reason prevails. Interesting vote from one of the mayoral candidates, though. 👀
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Davenport now says he wants a comprehensive fire station location plan, not just a plan of where to put fire station no. 5.

How long does he want to delay this?
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Davenport is making the density argument rn, that the fire station should be located at a high population density place.

But the fire chief directly answered this. He said density is addressed by adding more trucks at the already existing stations. What the new station addresses is coverage area.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Maybe we should appoint one of these speakers fire chief, they seem to know a lot about fire safety. 🤔
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I love how some people are citing international fire standards in support of their argument with the fire chief. 😂

If what they're saying is true, we should not only not put the fire station there, but maybe also terminate the fire chief? Like how incompetent do these people think he is?
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Someone just argued that buying the land for the fire station might violate the gratuities clause, because they're paying more than market.

But they're getting land! It's not something for nothing, hah! That person was really reaching.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Moving on the fire station controversy. Hold on to your hats.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
A number of people are speaking in opposition to a proposed industrial development on Old Elberton Road down at city hall.

The planning commission recommends denial, so this might be a relatively easy decision. We'll see.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Commissioner Johnson just voted against the consent agenda but didn't give a reason. Very mysterious.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I'm here in person this time so I can't cuss. I'll have to hold it all in! Or post here, my one outlet. 😅
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
The monthly mayor and commission voting meeting is set to start at 6 pm. The biggest thing on the agenda is the fate of fire station #5. The Firefly Trail discussion has been delayed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2feF...
10-07-2025 Mayor & Commission Regular Session
YouTube video by Athens-Clarke County (accgov)
www.youtube.com
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
Tim Denson launched his campaign for Mayor of Athens-Clarke County at Athentic this weekend.

"We do not have to accept a world where working class people must choose between housing and healthcare."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTHg...
Tim Denson launches his campaign for mayor of Athens-Clarke County
YouTube video by Athens Politics Nerd
www.youtube.com
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I don't know the specifics, but yes I believe both of those things are correct. It's definitely not threatening any houses, but there is a shed they would have to move.
athenspoliticsnerd.bsky.social
I'm hearing that there are technical issues with Davenport's plan to halt Firefly Trail construction along the approved route and that it will be considered in November, not next Tuesday.

If you want to give a comment, you still can but it would at the end of the meeting now.