WATCH: 2025 State of the Community Address

The 2025 State of the Community Address video from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz is now available online, on the ACCGov Roku channel, and on ACTV. The 15-minute video provides an overview of some ACCGov and community activities, accomplishments, and responses during 2024, as well as a look ahead to future initiatives.

The video can be viewed through the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/accgov), the ACCGov channel on Roku devices, the ACCGov website (www.accgov.com/videos), and ACTV Cable Channel 180. It is also linked on the main ACCGov social media channels (@accgov) on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

WATCH: 50th Juried Art Exhibition at the Lyndon House Arts Center

Make plans to check out the Lyndon House Arts Center's 50th Juried Exhibition this spring. 

Juror Michael Rooks from the High Museum in Atlanta selected 150 artworks to display out of 835 pieces submitted by 306 artists from the Athens area. The exhibition opened in March and is on view through May 10 during the Lyndon House's normal hours.

Watch this video on the 50th Juried Show on YouTube or on the ACCGov channel on Roku devices.

For more information on the exhibit, visit www.accgov.com/juriedshow. 

Future Land Use information sessions and survey available through April

ACCGov will host a series of public input events and survey opportunities throughout April as part of the Planning Department’s continued efforts to update Athens-Clarke County’s Future Land Use Map. This is the third series of public input opportunities since the fall of 2023 on the development of the updated map. 

A number of public drop-in meetings will take place through April 30. At these events, staff and Future Land Use Steering Committee members will be present to talk about the map, review proposals, answer questions, and assist residents with filling out the survey. A list of events and drop-in meeting flyers are available at accgov.com/compplan. 

The map and other policy decisions about land use will help rewrite zoning codes, guide public infrastructure decisions, and update the state-required Comprehensive Plan. 

For more details and to sign up for notifications about the process, visit accgov.com/compplan or call the Planning Department at 706-613-3515.

Pop-up Park celebrates 100th event

Three cheers for the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Pop-up Park! This unique mobile recreation unit recently attended its 100th community event since its inception in 2021. 

The Pop-up Park is available, free of charge, to attend any community-wide or school event within Athens-Clarke County. The bus is covered with eye-catching art by local artist Eli Saragoussi and is chock full of fun games, crafts, and sports equipment. Simply stated, it brings the park to you. 

Want to have the Pop-up Park at your next event? Complete an online request form at accgov.com/popuppark at least two weeks prior to your date.

New solar trackers installed at ACC Library

Seven large Photovoltaic (PV) solar trackers were installed at the Athens-Clarke County Library in February and were dedicated in a ceremony on April 2, 2025. 

Funding for the project from ACCGov came from SPLOST 2011 Project 23 - Energy Sustainability Program and SPLOST 2020 Project 11 - Renewable Energy, which provided matching funds for an additional $140,000 grant from the library system. The trackers will provide electricity for the library as well as direct current power to a future Level 3 EV Charger for electric vehicles.

The seven trackers are capable of providing around 20% of the facility’s energy consumption, which is equivalent to 267 megawatts. This is approximately the same amount of energy that 27 homes would use in a year.  

The trackers are guided by sensors to actively follow sunlight and optimize the efficiency of the panels.

Installation of the solar trackers is a step towards Athens-Clarke County’s commitment to generate 100% of facility electricity from clean and renewable energy sources by 2035.

Fair Housing Month + Community Development Week events in April

In celebration of National Fair Housing Month and National Community Development Week, the ACCGov Housing & Community Development Department (HCD) is hosting a series of informative and engaging events to connect residents with vital knowledge and resources. All events are free and open to the public. 

Events include a Tenant's Rights Forum on April 10, Fair Housing Rights Forum on April 23, and a Community Development Resource Fair on April 26. 

For details on each event, visit accgov.com/hcd.

Tornado Preparedness Tips

With tornado season approaching, ACCGov's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) provides these tips in the event of a tornado warning and encourages residents to sign up for ACCGov Emergency Alerts or other local weather alerts. If a tornado warning is issued:

• Go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar. If there is no basement, go to a small, interior room or hallway on the lowest level.
• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
• If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and your body with a coat or blanket.
• Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for updates.

To sign up for emergency alerts through the ACCGov website or more information about the Emergency Management Agency, visit www.accgov.com/ema.

ARPA spending data public dashboard

In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to provide governments with the resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects. 

ARPA allocated Athens-Clarke County $57.6 million. As of October 1, 2024, the Mayor and Commission had allocated all ARPA funds. The period of performance runs through December 31, 2026.

Check out the ARPA Data Hub through www.accgov.com/arpa to learn how Athens-Clarke County is putting the $57.6 million to work in the community.

The ACCGov Mixtape is distributed monthly by the ACCGov Communications Department, accgov.com/comms, 706-613-3795