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1. What do I do about a water / sewer line break?

Contact the Department of Public works at (740) 593-7636.  If after hours, follow the prompts to reach the Water or Wastewater Treatments Plants. Do not send an email. If the water flow poses a potential obstruction to traffic or flooding risk seems dangerous, In the event that you see any of the following:

• Water flowing heavily from the ground or a manhole cover when it has not been raining
• Water seeping from a water meter
• Water flowing from a fire hydrant when it has not been activated
• Your faucets don’t run or toilets don’t fill with water after flushing

2. How can I be notified about a boil order?

Boil orders are announced on most local radio stations, on the local government access channel, and the City website.  Residents can sign up for Nixle alerts by texting 45701 to 888-777.  There is also a boil order hotline at (740) 594-5078. For any further questions, contact Engineering / Public Works at (740) 593-7636.

3. How do I get a sewer / water tap installed at my residence?

For information, please call EPW at 740-593-7636. The City Engineer and Director of Public Works sets the fees for the taps according to the Ohio EPA Flow guide. Residents that want to visit in person can bring a copy of their plans to EPW. Once the plans are reviewed, the fees will be calculated. 

Tap Fee Explanation:  Tap Fees are composed of “capacity fees” and “connection fees”.  Capacity fees are a computation of potential new demand on the water and sewer (sanitary and storm) systems, based on the comparison of the facility to be built with the new demand placed on system by a single family home.  The attached facilities benefit assessment shows the basis for these computations.  The connection fee is the cost of city workers to make the actual tie in to the city mains.  This cost is determined by actual time and materials used for such work (no overhead or profit since the city is a public entity) and is billed after the connection occurs.  This cost is driven by the difficulty of the connection and material required to replace the street – it is difficult to estimate beforehand, but usually falls between $500 and $5000.

All capacity fees must be paid at Athens Utilities Billing Office prior to scheduling actual tap, which will occur in a 6-week window after capacity fees are paid.  This capacity fee calculation is independent of other plan notes mentioned on the site plan review memo.

Please note – time and material by city personnel of the actual connection will be charged in addition to the capacity fees above after the connection is complete and require payment before account is activated.

City of Athens, Ohio

FACILITIES BENEFIT ASSESSMENT

based on EPA FLOW GUIDE

As required by O-123-10 and O-123-11

PLACE                                                                                 ESTIMATED GALLONS PER DAY

                                                                                                                                                WATER                 SEWER

Single Family Homes                                                                          400                         ($1,300)                 ($3,000)

           

Apartments/Condos           (One Bedroom Units)                          150                         ($487.50)              ($1,125)

Apartments/Condos           (Two Bedroom Units)                         250                         ($812.50)              ($1,875)

Apartments/Condos           (Three Bedroom Units)                       350                         ($1,137.50)           ($2,625)

               

Assembly Halls/Classrooms                                                              2 per seat

Beauty Shops                                                                                       200 per basin (work station)

Bowling Alleys (No Food Service)                                                    75 per seat

Bowling Alleys (With Food Service)                                 100 per seat

Churches (No Kitchen)                                                                       4 per seat

Churches (With Kitchen)                                                                    6 per seat

Country Clubs                                                                                      50 per member

Dance Halls                                                                                          2 per seat

Factories (No Showers)                                                                       25 per employee

Factories (With Showers)                                                                   35 per employee

Food Service Operations:

Ordinary Restaurants (Not 24 Hour)                               35 per seat

24-hour Restaurants                                                           50 per seat

Banquet Rooms                                                                  5 per seat

Tavern                                                                                   35 per seat

Curb Service/Drive-Thru window                                     50 per seat

Vending Machine Hall                                                       100 per seat

Hospital (No Resident Personnel)                                                     300 per bed

Institutions (Residents)                                                                       100 per person

Laboratories                                                                                         0.2 per square foot

Laundries (Coin Operated)                                                                                400 per machine

Mobile Home Parks                                                                            300 per space

Motels                                                                                                    100 per unit

Rooming Homes/Houses (Not more than                                      100 per unit

 13 residents)

Nursing and Rest Homes                                                                   150 per Patient + 100 per Resident                                                                                                                                                  Employee + 50 per Non-Resident Employee

Office Buildings                                                                                   20 per Employee

Retail Store                                                                                           20 per Employee

Schools (Elementary)                                                                         15 per pupil

Schools (High or Jr. High)                                                                  20 per pupil

Physical Fitness Centers, Gyms                                                        20 per customer/member

Service Stations                                                                                   1000 for first bay or pump island +

500 for each additional island

Shopping Centers (No Food Service)                                               0.2 per square foot

Shopping Centers (With Food Service)                                            0.3 per square foot

Vacation Cottage                                                                                                100 per occupant

Dormitory (Over 13 Residents)                                                         50 per day/resident

 (No Food Service)

Club Houses/Recreational Facilities                                                                5 per member/user +

(With Food Service and Showers)                                                    35 per seat in food service area

Club Houses/Recreational Facilities                                                                2 per member/user +

(With Food Service and No Showers)                                              35 per seat in food service area

Club Houses/Recreational Facilities                                                                2 per member/user

(With No Food Service and No Showers)                       

STORM SEWERS                                                                               $0.10 PER SQUARE FOOT OF INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, FOR EVERY 2500 SQUARE FEET OR PART THEREOF.

OEPA  385-8501

divide all outcomes by 400 gal., single family equivalent                                          

4. Where can I request a street closure or the movement of a dumpster?

All requests for the temporary closure of a street, sidewalk, or alleyway or requests for the temporary placement of a dumpster must be submitted to the Deputy Service Safety Director at 8 East Washington Street, phone number (740) 592-3338. To close or block a city street without proper authorization is unlawful and could potentially pose a risk to public safety.

5. My car was damaged by a pothole on a street maintained by the city. Can I receive compensation for the repair?

The City of Athens Engineering and Public Works Department will consider claims for reimbursement for vehicle repair costs sustained by a pothole or other distress in a city street. In order for a claim to be fully considered, the pothole in question must have already been identified to the EPW Department, and the department failed to repair it in a reasonable amount of time. Under normal working and weather conditions, two (2) business days from the initial report is considered reasonable for the pothole to be properly repaired. Claims for the damage caused by unreported potholes will be considered but the city is not obligated to pay. 

Citizens may first seek compensation from their auto insurance company. The city will only consider dollar amounts up to the deductible amount for the policy owner. For instance, if the damage costs $1000 to repair and the citizen's insurance deductible is $500, the city will consider reimbursement up to $500. 

Procedure: 

The citizens notifies the Engineering and Public Works Department of the intention to place the claim, then provides the following information by email or in person: 

1)The attached completed form

2)Obtain a police report/incident report by stopping by the Athens Police Department located at 11 N College street Athens, Ohio 45701 between the working hours of 8am-4pm.

3)The repair receipt

4)Insurance information:

a)If you have full coverage you must provide your deductible amount

b)If you have liability-only insurance, you must submit proof i.e. declaration page of the insurance binder or

insurance documentation bearing that information

Following the provision of correct documentation the Engineering and Public Works Department will then submit it to the city's insurance carrier for review. The carrier will contact the citizen directly with a determination. 

DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE

6. I am having concrete work done and am interested in curb by my residence that meets city code. Am I eligible for reimbursement?

Yes. A copy of this policy and procedure is available from the City of Athens. Please contact the Department of Public Works at (740) 593-7936 for more information.

7. I am moving in or out of Athens; how do I activate/deactivate my water?

All changes to water accounts should be submitted to the Utilities Billing Office in City Hall at 8 East Washington Street. The utilities office phone number is (740) 592-3347. Do not contact the Department of Engineering and Public Works to have your water connected / disconnected.

8. How can I dispose of my yard waste?

Beginning July 1st, 2009, all city residents may purchase stamped bags and stickers for bundles at the Utilities Billing Office, Recreation Center front desk, and Code Office.  The stickers may be put on bundles of brush (meeting size limits) which the city will then pick up every Tuesday and Friday. To have the bags and bundles picked up, call the Department Engineering and Public Works yard waste line at 740-592-3343 to leave your pick up request, or to speak to Engineering and Public Works at (740) 593-7636. The cost for the stamped bags and stickers is $2.00 per bag or sticker for bundles. Bags must contain only organic material (this excludes feces or dead animals of any kind) and may not contain trash. Bags must also weigh under 50 pounds and must not be ripped, torn, or susceptible to breaking. Bundles must be tied with string and must be under four feet in length. Limbs of eight inches in diameter or more cannot be picked up and must be disposed of at the discretion of the resident. Calls for yard waste made after 7:30 am on a pickup date will be picked up on the next date.

9. Can I dump brush at the city annex?

The City of Athens does not permit dumping of brush at the city Service Garage Annex for any reason, for anyone. While the city allowed residents to dump brush in the past, this practice has been discontinued due to the number of abuses (i.e., dumping of trash). Any resident who wishes to dispose of brush must cut and bundle it and purchase stickers for the city’s yard waste pickup service, or hire a tree service.

10. What do I do about a downed tree?

Questions about standing dead trees on the City right of way call the City Arborist at 740-592-3338.  The Department of Public Works will clear away dead or dying trees in the public right-of-way if they obstruct traffic or if they pose an immediate safety hazard to the public. Contact (740) 593-7636 and an inspector will come out to determine if the department can cut away the tree. Trees that are damaged or fall within private property must be cleared away by the resident at the resident’s expense.

11. Can I get loads of wood chips from the city?

Residents who call in advance may receive up to one pickup truck load of wood chips from the city annex. No deliveries. While the city provided a front-end loader to load vehicles in the past, this has been discontinued. Any residents who pick up loads of wood chips must load the mulch themselves with their own equipment.

12. There is a dead animal in a city roadway. What should I do?

Notify the Department of Public Works and someone will come to take away the animal, if it is in the city right-of-way.

13. There is a downed power line in the road way. What should I do?

If anyone should find a power line or telephone line down in the roadway, they should immediately contact the power company or telephone company. If the power line appears dangerous, blocks the roadway, is sparking, or is on fire, someone should also notify the fire department right away.

14. How do I dispose of dead leaves in the fall?

Citizens who wish to dispose of their dead leaves during the fall leaf pick-up schedule should rake their leaves to the curb and notify the Department of Public Works., please don't cover catch basins.  The leafing vacuum should sweep up the leaves within a few weeks. However, due to the sheer volume of leaves and problems with running the vacuum truck down certain streets, it is not guaranteed that leaves will be cleared away immediately. Citizens who wish to immediately dispose of their leaves may bag them in the purchased bags from the Utility Billing Office, Recreation Center, and Code Office.  Once bagged call into the yard waste line at 740-592-3343 and these bagged leaves will be cleared away with other yard waste on Tuesday and Friday every week.