By Drew Bearden
District 6 Commissioner Jesse Houle awaits addressing short-term rental impacts and the costs of living in the next agenda session near the greenway outside Buvez in Athens during an interview on Oct. 27, 2021. Houle is now in the 4th year of his term. (Photo/Vesper Henry)
Athens-Clarke County residents have the opportunity to address their concerns about county improvements, including the the impacts of short-term living and current living wages in Athens-Clarke County, during the Mayor and Commission Agenda Setting Session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Athens City Hall.
The price of rent is only going up in Athens-Clarke County. Compared nationally, the housing cost of living is up 4.1% meaning the necessities needed to live in Athens are becoming more expensive. This creates a strain on students as they have less time to earn money.
Residents will be able to directly ask any commissioner including District 6 Commissioner and Chair of the Mayor and Commission committee Jesse Houle. Houle has been serving district 6 since the 2020 special election, beginning the first full term in 2021.
Houle has been advocating for the improvement in the cost of living since before becoming a commissioner for Athens-Clarke County and looks forward to the progress to come.
“I’ve been a proponent of that since I ran,” said Houle.
Among other items on the agenda of concern to District 6 Commissioner Jesse Houle are short-term rental impacts, and he said he hopes the commission “ will pass something, because I think it’s long overdue,” and the current living wage of the county.
The Mayor and Commission Agenda Setting Session represents an opportunity for the community to speak with its representatives but also for students at the University of Georgia. Houle said, “UGA often has a big influence on what ends up in meetings” due to the university owning so much land.
Other items on the agenda is adoption of a new Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) and getting the Merlin Drive sewer repaired involving a new route to improve the flow of residents which will help with traffic and make the streets of Athens-Clarke county safer.
Forms for public comment are available at the meeting to ensure that the information is correctly entered into the minutes. The public has an allotted time to discuss current or old business for the commissioners and mayor to hear the concerns of their constituents.
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