New Athens Mayor Joe Behnken shared the following farewell address:
As I prepare to step down as your mayor, I want to reflect on our journey together and share the accomplishments we’ve achieved as a community, along with some challenges that remain ahead for my successor. When I took office, our marina had not collected rent from the renter for several years, leading to a complicated legal situation. I’m proud to announce that we successfully resolved this with a $50,000 court ruling in our favor and reached a settlement on a $750,000 lawsuit that the renter had filed against the village, ultimately settling for $200,000. Additionally, we invested $30,000 to repair the vandalized electrical system, restoring functionality for future users. It is crucial for the next mayor to prioritize the ongoing maintenance and further development of our marina and campground, fostering a vibrant community space.
For more on Behnken, please see this week’s print edition.