2026 2 2 Meeting Report

Machine-read OCR text; verify every number, name, and layout against the original page.

Council Advisory Meeting
Monday, February 2, 2026
(postponed from Monday, January2O6th due to snow)

Attendance:
Amy Sullins Hugh Willson
Anne Marie Shaffer Joe Kimbro
Barbara Peck Shawn McKeehan

Francis Witt- McMahan Patti Greek. Chair

We postponed the meeting due to bad weather the week before and therefore several were
out of town from previous commitments (3), (2) due to illness and (2) did not respond.

We began by welcoming our new member, Joe Kimbro.

As always, [ remind everyone they need to share their thoughts, that is why they were asked
to ne on this committee.

Following the agenda; our first topic —Beautification of Exit 49 Gr Exit 52

[reminded them about a Main Street meeting | attended several years ago and how the

speaker showed 7~8-10 photos on a wide screen and asked all the Main Street Directors and
the Chamber of Commerce Directors to look for their city.

Well, we all looked and looked. After a few minutes and several photos went by,

he said, “did you see your city?’ No response. He then said, “hard to know—they all looked
alike!”

So what can we do to show Athens is different?

Exit 49:
® agreed that the lighting is better at 49.
Weigel’s has brought anice clean look

Need nice plantings with a maintenance plan

Possibly Athens in big letters, so people will recognize it on the side of the hills either
way. ATHENS allin lights.

e Maybe the international symbol of friendship that has been used—but have signage
that we are the “Friendly City” next to the symbol

e Signage needs to stand out more—other colors than green & white. For the Museum,
Athens Art Center, Historic Downtown, etc.

© Ifthe City could/would finish the Regional Park, more restaurants and activities
would come and bring more tax revenue.

One of our largest assets and we have not finished this project.
The whole group said... “if you build it~ they would come’.