WATCH: Animal Fostering Program

Check out a new video about the animal fostering program through the ACCGov Animal Services Department.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Animal Services is launching a special short-term foster initiative to provide our shelter dogs with the chance to experience the comfort of a home environment during the holiday weekend.

They are currently seeking responsible, caring individuals and families to foster a dog from November 21 - December 1. Providing even a brief reprieve from the shelter helps reduce stress, improves behavior, and greatly increases a dog’s chances of being adopted.

The shelter will provide all necessary supplies, including food, bedding, leashes, and support. All you need to provide is a safe, welcoming environment and a little of your time.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals and families who may not be ready for permanent adoption but want to support our shelter in a meaningful way.

To sign up or learn more, visit www.accgov.com/fosterapet or contact Animal Services directly at animalservicesfoster@accgov.com or 762-400-2127.

All foster candidates must complete a brief screening and orientation prior to placement.

WATCH: Airspading Soil for Tree Health

The ACCGov Central Services Department's Landscape Management Division uses a process called airspading that aims to decrease the negative effects of water stress and drastically increase the lifespan of public trees in the community. 

Learn more from Community Forestry Coordinator Mateo Fennell as he explains and demonstrates the airspading technique in this video.

Learn more about ACCGov's Community Forestry program and other tree care services at www.accgov.com/forester. 

Athens in Motion Plan Update Input through Dec. 7

ACCGov's Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) invites residents to provide input on future bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements through Sun., Dec. 7. This community input will help shape the update to the Athens in Motion (AIM) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan first approved in 2018. 

An educational StoryMap and survey is available at www.accgov.com/athensinmotion. In addition to the survey, the project webpage includes background on the AIM plan, a map of improvements, a copy of the original plan, and ways to get involved.

For more information or to complete the survey by Sun., Dec. 7, visit www.accgov.com/athensinmotion.

Greenway Network Plan Update Survey through Nov. 30

ACCGov's Leisure Services Department and the Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission are seeking public comments on recent changes to the Oconee Rivers Greenway Network Plan.

The Oconee Rivers Greenway Network Plan is a living document that guides the future of the greenway system of Athens-Clarke County. It provides a vision plan for the riparian corridors next to rivers and recreational multiuse trails within Athens-Clarke County.

Trail alignments are conceptual and, if any section is approved for funding, construction drawings are created and public input is sought before construction begins. Residents are invited to make comments through an online survey at accgov.com/greenwaynetworkplan. The survey will remain open through Sun., Nov. 30.

Transit Proposed Service Changes

Athens-Clarke County Transit invites residents to attend one of several upcoming informational sessions to learn about proposed service changes and share feedback. An overview of the proposed changes can be found online, which are planned to take place in January 2026.

The remaining in-person sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

• Thurs., Nov. 13 from 3:00-5:00 PM at the Multimodal Transportation Center (775 E. Broad St.)
• Fri., Nov. 14 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Fire Station #7 (2350 S. Barnett Shoals Rd.)

Transit will also host a virtual session on Fri., Nov. 14 from 1:00-4:00 PM. Join online.

For more information on the proposed changes, visit www.accgov.com/transit. 

Solid Waste Bulky Item Pick-up

ACCGov's Solid Waste Department recently launched a new Bulky Waste Collection Program designed to improve service efficiency and provide residents with a more convenient way to dispose of large household items that do not fit in regular garbage or recycling roll-carts.

Who is eligible? Residential customers, including single family detached, duplex, and four-plex dwelling structures occupied by either an owner or tenant in either the General Service or Urban Service District. You don't have to use ACCGov Solid Waste as your trash/recycling collector to use the service.

How does it work? Bulky waste will be collected by request only. Up to five items will be picked up during each scheduled pick-up, with a maximum of four pickups per year, per address (for a total of 20 items per year). Items must be placed neatly on the curb no earlier than 24 hours before the collection date and by 7:00 AM of the pick-up day. There is no fee for the four pick-ups per year.

Residents can schedule bulky item collections and find out more details by filling out the form online at www.accgov.com/bulkywaste or by calling 706-613-3501.

Board of Tax Equalization Applications due Nov. 30

The Grand Jury for the October 2025 Term of the Superior Court of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, is required to make five appointments or reappointments to the Board of Tax Equalization of Athens-Clarke County:

• One alternate member to fill an unexpired term that expires December 31, 2027.
• One regular member and three alternate members to fill terms from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.

The Board of Tax Equalization is responsible for hearing appeals on property values and exemptions.

Any citizen of Athens-Clarke County who owns real property and is a high school graduate is eligible for appointment to the Board of Tax Equalization. Interested citizens are encouraged to find our more information and apply online or through a printed form to download and send in at www.accgov.com/clerkofcourt. 

Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, November 30.

Call for Projects: 2026 MLK Day of Service

The 2026 Athens MLK Day of Service will take place on Mon., Jan. 19, 2026. Last year, 600+ individuals volunteered at 25 sites throughout the community. The online project site application is now open for this year’s day of service.

Any public / private nonprofit organization, healthcare organization, school, or other public organization in the Athens-Clarke County area can host a project for the Day of Service. Project sites must identify a Site Leader to oversee the project, provide a liability waiver to be signed by volunteers, provide all materials necessary to complete the project (except for some loaned tools from the Athens Area Toolshed), and follow required safety protocols.

The application will remain open through Sun., Nov. 16. Organizations wishing to host more than one project should complete an application for each project.

Learn more at www.accgov.com/mlkday. 

Dec. 9 Special Election

On Monday, November 3, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued notice for a special election to fill a vacancy in Georgia House District 121 to be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. This seat has been held by Representative Marcus Wiedower since 2018.

Athens-Clarke County residents who live within Georgia House District 121 are eligible to vote in this election. This impacts over 15,000 voters across 10 precincts. Residents can visit the Georgia My Voter Page and view a precinct card or call the Elections Department at 706-613-3150 to find out if they live in the district.

Advance voting will be held from Nov. 17 - Dec. 5 at the ACCGov Elections Department (155 E. Washington Street) and Dec. 1 - Dec. 5 at the ACCGov Tennis Center (4460 Lexington Road). View a full schedule at www.accgov.com/advancevoting. 

Residents who live in Georgia State House District 121 and wish to vote via absentee ballot should make a request by Wednesday, November 26. Requests may be made by phone, in-person, by email, or online. More information is available at www.accgov.com/absenteevoting.

Election Day is Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Polls are open at all precincts from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Voters must be in line by 7:00 PM in order to vote. A runoff election, if necessary, would be held on Tuesday, January 6.

More details at www.accgov.com/elections. 

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