OU ex-president could help bury utility lines

by Hillary Copsey
Senior City Writer

The former Ohio University president responsible for burying campus power lines might help the City of Athens bury utility lines along East State Street.

Athens officials and residents discussed burying the electric, phone and cable lines at the April 29 council meeting. Though most agreed the burial would beautify the street, there was concern over its possible $4 million price tag. American Electric Power, Athens electric supplier, estimated electric line burial alone could cost $3 million.

Some citizens suggested a fundraising effort to foot the bill, and they could get help from Vernon Alden, OU president from 1962 to 1969.

Alden had telephone lines buried that had streamed from Cutler Hall before his arrival.

“(The power lines) made the place look like a spider web. It was unattractive and impractical,” Alden said.

This is the same view residents now have about the East State Street lines. Burying the power lines also lessened the chance of power outages because of storms and saved energy.

“Now is an opportunity for the community to step up to the plate and put those wires in the ground,” Alden said. “I would consider making a donation, but I certainly want to see a response from the community.”

A possible income tax increase similar to the one that enables Athens to widen East State Street could help fund the burial, but both council members and residents think the city should try to get the money elsewhere.

“I really think that the taxpayers should be the last resort,” said Athens resident Mary Anne Morrison, who spoke at the April 29 meeting. She said she believes residents and area businesses would donate between $100 and $500 toward the final cost.

“Money is short and I understand that,” Morrison said. “It isn’t Dublin, Ohio, here. People just can’t rush around beautifying.”

But larger businesses, such as Wal-Mart, could make larger donations, Morrison said. Private donations, such as Alden’s possible contribution, and grants also could fund the utility line burial.

Wal-Mart does have a fund for developmental projects in their stores’ cities, but Wal-Mart spokesman John Bisio said he is unsure if burying the utility lines would qualify to receive money from this fund.

Mayor Ric Abel said at the April 29 meeting that donations could go through the Athens Foundation, the city’s non-profit, fundraising arm.

Before residents start heavy fundraising efforts, Athens officials must spend $10,000 for an AEP survey to get a final estimate of the total costs for the burial. Council could approve spending the money for the survey at its May 6 meeting. But AEP engineer Jim Hill said the survey could take three months to complete.

And not all residents are as enthusiastic as Morrison and other pro-burial citizens.

Councilman Ed Baum, R-at-large, received an e-mail message on April 30 from a resident against spending city money to bury the East State Street utility lines.

He said the message said $3 million was ridiculous to spend on the utility line burial and that the city should finish the Court Street revitalization project and cleaning other areas first.

Other residents want to see the lines buried regardless of price.

“It’s a major corridor. And we’re going to have to live with it. We’re going to have to live with it if it’s pretty and we’re going to have to live with it ugly. I’d rather live with it pretty,” Morrison said.